Cyber Security Awareness Month 2021
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. A reminder for businesses and individuals to reassess their knowledge and practices when it comes to cyber safety.
Cyber security is more important now than ever. Risks are growing and cyber attacks and data breaches are on the rise. It’s up to everyone to take action and stay up to date with current best practice, enabling them to stay safe.
European Cyber Security Month
European Cyber Security Month (ECSM) is coordinated in partnership between the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and the European Commission, aimed at promoting cyber security among EU organisations and citizens.
The annual campaign involves hundreds of activities, spread across Europe, with a focus on digital security. Throughout October, conferences, workshops, training sessions, webinars, presentations and other events are running. With the aim of equipping businesses and individuals with the tools and information to enhance their digital health.
This year’s themes are Cyber first aid and Be cyber secure at home, with the overarching message of #ThinkB4UClick.
Free resources are available for general users, young people, older people and businesses. With advice and support when it comes to keeping yourself and your interests safe in the digital world.
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Across the pond, The US marks its 18th National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), with the catchphrase ‘Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart’.
The campaign is run by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). Featuring free resources and materials on staying safe online.
The emphasis is on personal accountability and the role each of us plays in ensuring digital security and cyber hygiene. We can all take proactive steps to combat poor cyber security and reduce risks.
Both campaigns focus on raising awareness and sharing good practices around cyber security. With up to date information and easy to understand resources everyone can learn from. These campaigns stress that you don’t have to be a digital expert to understand and take steps to achieve better digital security. Simply knowing what to look out for is an important step.
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Cyber security in 2021
The statistics are clear. Cyber crime is growing and an ever increasing number of attacks and breaches are reported each month. From large-scale breaches causing massive shutdowns and costing millions, to smaller, but no less devastating, attacks on individuals and their personal online information.
In 2021, the risks are always changing. Top concerns include ransomware, phishing and malware, along with newer risks such as cryptomining. The increase in remote work following the pandemic has opened us up to greater vulnerability. Poorly configured networks can be easily invaded. Without proper training and with more social isolation, potential concerns can go unaddressed.
The aim is not to scare, but to empower. There are simple, yet effective ways we can all make things better.
We need to brush up on our digital hygiene to ensure we stay safe. Small actions can make a big difference. The value of secure passwords, for example, in deterring data breaches and hacks cannot be underestimated. Similarly, limiting access to management systems to a few privileged accounts (equipped with proper data security training) helps avoid breaches.
As our dependence on technology increases, the importance of cyber security awareness will only grow. In such a complex and intangible landscape, where data and technology constantly evolves, opportunities to educate ourselves are invaluable.
Whether you’re an individual, a small business or a large corporation, there’s something you can learn. Investing time and resources into protecting ourselves online is imperative for us all. Find out more by visiting the ECSM website or CISA.
