What is Cybersecurity Awareness month?

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an annual initiative held every October that aims to raise awareness and educate people about the importance of staying safe and secure online. It was founded in 2004 by the US Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance and has since expanded to many countries around the world, including Australia.

This year’s theme

The theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 is ‘Be cyber wise – don’t compromise’. This year, the campaign encourages everyone to take four simple steps to boost their cyber security and protect their devices and accounts from cyber threats. These steps are:

• Update your devices regularly.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication.
• Back up your important files.
• Use passphrases and password managers.

By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks such as ransomware, phishing, malware, identity theft, and business email compromise. You can also help make the internet a safer place for yourself and others.

Resources

The best resource that can help you learn more about the aforementioned measures and general cyber security awareness is the Cybersecurity Awareness Guide that I have put together. It is an easy to follow guide of all the types of threats and measures you can review and put in place to make you and your organisation more secure.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre and Scamwatch websites also have great information as well as part of the Australian Government’s initiatives to make us all more cyber secure.

Becoming more Cyber Secure this month

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great opportunity to review your online habits and practices, and to learn new skills and tips that can help you stay cyber wise. By being cyber aware, you can not only protect yourself from cyber threats, but also contribute to a more secure and resilient cyberspace for everyone.

If you and your organisation need help implementing a culture of being more cybersecure, then please contact me and I can assist.