Get Involved in Cybersecurity Awareness Month This October!

Although cybersecurity awareness is important all year, October is a very special month for the field of cybersecurity. Each year we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative that raises awareness of how people and organizations can be safer and more secure online. The theme is Secure Our World, which is part of a campaign that highlights simple ways to protect individuals, families, and businesses from cyber threats.

CISA is the federal lead for the campaign and works with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) to create resources that highlight these simple cybersecurity tips:

• Recognize and Report Phishing: Keep accounts secure by recognizing the common signs of phishing, resisting the temptation to click links or attachments, and deleting phishing messages.
• Use Strong Passwords: Make passwords long, random, and unique; make sure to pick a password that includes all three of these characteristics!
• Turn ON Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Protect all accounts by enabling MFA on email, social media, financial accounts, and any online accounts that offer this service.
• Update Software: Ensure devices have the latest security patches and updates. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.

Spend time in October learning more about these tips and the Secure our World campaign by visiting CISA’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month page to check out the tip cards, guides, videos, and more. 

Celebrate with NICCS

You can also use the resources and tools on NICCS to raise your cybersecurity awareness, knowledge, and understanding in October and year-round. Here are a few ways to celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month on NICCS:

• Take a cybersecurity training course listed on the NICCS Education & Training Catalog.
• Investigate different types of cybersecurity work by using the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework).
• Learn about what is needed to be successful in cybersecurity careers with the Cyber Career Pathways Tool.
• Apply to open federal cybersecurity positions in your area and remotely by using the Interactive Cybersecurity Career Map.

Check back throughout October for more ways to get involved and be sure to share what you learn with family, friends, and colleagues. Use the #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth hashtag to promote cybersecurity awareness on all social media platforms including:

• X: @CISAgov
• Facebook: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• LinkedIn: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• Instagram: @CISAgov

If you have any questions, please email NICCS@mail.cisa.dhs.gov or AwarenessCampaigns@cisa.dhs.gov for more information.