CybersecurityOctober is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

This October marks the tenth National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), an effort to educate millions of people each year about the importance of online safety and security. During the month, leaders from the public and private sectors will come together to advance its universal theme that protecting the Internet is “Our Shared Responsibility.”

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) last week said the tenth year marks a pivotal point in the U.S. ongoing cybersecurity effort. While events like National Cyber Security Awareness Month have helped create an engaged and knowledgeable Internet user base, the size and scale of threats continues to grow. In the coming decade, vigilance and taking personal responsibility to practice safer and more secure online behavior will remain core principles in protecting the Internet. NCSAM will continue as an imporatnt vehicle for renewing everyone’s commitment to protecting our vital digital assets.

As they have since the first NCSAM in 2004, the NCSA and DHS will lead and coordinate efforts throughout the United States, focused on empowering everyone, from individuals to enterprises, to stay safer and more secure online.

“In the last decade, the tireless efforts of our industry and public sector partners during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and all year long, have helped make ‘cybersecurity’ a household word,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of NCSA. “And while ten years is a major milestone, there are no laurels to rest on in making the Internet safer, more secure and trusted. In the years ahead, we must double down on our efforts, maintain a focus on education and awareness and provide pathways for action. We can only do this by sharing the responsibility.”

The scale of NCSAM has grown tremendously since its inception in 2004. Last year alone, the effort reached more than 500 million people through events, traditional and social media and other channels. In 2010, NCSA launched STOP. THINK. CONNECT., a national cybersecurity education and awareness campaign. STOP. THINK. CONNECT. has nearly 100 participating companies, organizations, and government entities and has gone global through partnerships with Canada, Panama, Paraguay, the Organization of American States, and other international groups.

The October schedule features events designed to reach the widest possible range of audiences. The official NCSAM kick-off event will take place on Tuesday, 1 October in Boston, Massachusetts with leaders from the federal, state, local government, and industry. NCSAM education and activities are fueled in large part by many