Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021:

Published 9/28/2021, 1:00pm

Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart

October is just about here, and the all-seeing eye of the ever-present algorithm has already been filling my browser with ads for discount costume stores, decorations that will disintegrate at the first sign of inclement weather, and haunted houses that require waiving my rights to bodily autonomy upon entry. Yes, this is the spooky, scary month of Halloween, but it also holds a special place in our chosen profession: October is “Cybersecurity Awareness Month”.

The existence of “Cybersecurity Awareness Month” is a curious thing—those who know about and recognize the month are likely the most cyber-aware, and those who will likely never know the month exists are the ones most in need of more than a month-long cybersecurity PSA. For me, that introduces a far more frightening, looming, existential dread than anything else this month has to offer: the knowledge that to so many, cybersecurity is still such a foreign concept that it needs its own “awareness month”.

As cybersecurity professionals, we spend every hour of every day over the course of our careers and personal lives doing everything we can to educate our organizations and peers, enhance protection, detection, and remediation efforts, and remind businesses and friends that those best protected from cybercrime are those that take the time to educate and protect themselves. Unfortunately, that message can still fall on deaf ears, so it falls to us to continue pushing and educating.

So, as a prelude to Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s kick things off with some thoughts on the history and importance of this month, as well as GuidePoint’s plans to support this critical awareness effort.

Cybersecurity Awareness—Since 2004

In 2004, the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, intended “to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online.” Being the sweet summer children that we all were, living in a much simpler time, the message focused on helpful reminders like “update your antivirus software twice a year”. 

In the 17 years since that inaugural message, how we engage with and use technology has shifted and evolved in ways we likely never would have imagined in the early years of the millenium. The internet is now all-encompassing, reaching into the most minute parts of our work and daily lives. There’s no longer a simple way to be safe, you can’t just rely on general rules like “update your AV” or “don’t open emails from strangers”. In light of the vast role cybersecurity needs to play for all of us in 2021, the core message of this Cybersecurity Awareness Month is simply: “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart”. 

So far, 2021 has underscored the importance of NCSA and DHS’s mission and message more than ever. Ransomware attacks are at all-time highs, with a ripple effect resulting in everything from record ransom payments to long lines at the gas station. A series of devastating software supply chain attacks have temporarily shut down businesses around the globe. Phishing remains the number one most common threat, and other types of attacks like distributed denial of service (DDOS) and botnets continue to proliferate.

Cybersecurity Awareness—Actions Speak Louder than Words

As part of a special effort during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, GuidePoint Security will be sharing daily insights and information on the latest cybercrime and cybersecurity news, trends, and technologies to help improve and increase awareness. We’ll also be encouraging every business to do something daily to take action against cybercrime. You can follow our cybersecurity activities on our website and social media pages:

• GuidePoint Security Blog
• GuidePoint Security LinkedIn 
• GuidePoint Security Twitter 
• GuidePoint Security YouTube
• GuidePoint Security Facebook

And finally, look for the #BeCyberSmart hashtag when looking for more information on Cybersecurity Awareness Month.