October is recognized every year as the Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This campaign encourages individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of the cyberspace, stressing personal accountability and the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month In The US

This started in 2003 as a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cybersecurity Alliance. This initiative continues every year and is meant to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity in the US, and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

In its 18th anniversary, the motto for this year is Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart and includes 4 episodes:

• Be Cyber Smart: educates individuals and their families about cybersecurity best practices
• Fight The Phish: provides guidelines on protecting against phishing attacks
• Cybersecurity Career Awareness: promotes exploration of cybersecurity careers
• Cybersecurity First: makes security a priority, no more excuses

Cybersecurity Awareness Month In Europe

The European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM) is a younger counterpart (launched in 2012) to the US version and is dedicated to promote cybersecurity among citizens and organisations, and to provide up-to-date online security information through awareness raising and sharing of good practices.

Each year, for the entire month of October, hundreds of activities take place across Europe, including conferences, workshops, trainings, webinars, presentations and more, to promote digital security and cyber hygiene.

This year’s motto is #ThinkBe4UClick and contains 2 episodes:

• Cyber First Aid: provides guidelines on what to do if one falls victim of a cyber-attack
• Be Cyber-Secure At Home: ensures that end-users and organisations are well informed on the potential cybersecurity risks and that they stay safe online

Cybersecurity Champions

The Champion program is a way to officially show support for Cybersecurity Awareness Month and receive free resources. Champions are comapnies that are dedicated to eevangelize a more secure and more trusted internet usage. Champions can be companies and organizations of all sizes, schools and school districts, colleges and universities, nonprofits, government organizations and individuals. This is completely voluntary and does not require any financial support from supporting companies.

Champions are responsible for recommending best practices by using materials such as

• Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 toolkit of materials
• Social media graphics and sample social media posts
• Sample emails to send to employees and press release for organizations
• Cybersecurity Awareness Month logos
• Cybersecurity Guidelines
• Sample articles on each weekly theme (for US)

Here at Ciatrine, we are dedicated to ensuring the local community has all the resources necessary to be safe and more secure online. Every year during the month of October, we hold cybersecurity awareness campaigns at the local university in order to educate both students and teachers on cybersecurity best practices.