Cybersecurity Awareness Month Is October
Scary is an understatement for the state of cybersecurity today. According to McAfee, global losses from cybercrime in 2020 were $1 trillion and are expected to reach more than $6 trillion by the end of 2021. During October, and every month, we aim to spread awareness for cybersecurity. Addressing the gaps in your cybersecurity portfolio, better training your staff on best practices, and conducting regular assessments are ways to better address cybersecurity in your organization.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has shared a guide on how to celebrate every week for the month of October:
Week 1: Be Cyber Smart
The first week of cybersecurity awareness month highlights cybersecurity best practices. Some basic practices that should be implemented include using multi-factor authentication, updating software, and creating unique, strong passwords. We also recommend conducting cybersecurity assessments such as pen tests, vulnerability scanning, and security gap assessments regularly to identify potential threats.
Week 2: Fight the Phish!
Phishing attacks have been far too prevalent since the pandemic began and are getting more difficult to detect. Training your employees and having open conversations about how to best spot a phishing email can help minimize the threat of phishing. Implementing email security also can help shield your organization from phishing threats.
Week 3: Explore. Experience. Share.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals has increased as the amount of data we store online has risen. During week 3 of cybersecurity awareness month, the CISA encourages sharing opportunities for education and employment in the IT industry to narrow the gap.
Week 4: Cybersecurity First
When implementing data analytics solutions or additional infrastructure, cybersecurity should be top of mind. Any time there is a change within your IT environment, your cybersecurity posture will be affected. Therefore, when you introduce new, smarter technologies, consider cybersecurity from the beginning, not before it’s too late.
Guest blog written by: Samantha Motter from Aurora.
