October Awareness Month

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

This October is the 16^th annual observance of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. We've moved from a time when technology was somewhat involved in our lives to varying degrees to reaching a line where our online and offline lives are virtually indistinguishable. The internet impacts our homes, societal well-being, economic prosperity, and the nation's security.

NCSAM, under leadership from the National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), has focused its previous messages around a theme of 'Our Shared Responsibility.' This year, NCSAM moves to a new overarching theme, 'Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT,' to help encourage personal accountability and proactive behavior in digital privacy, security best practices, common cyber threats and cybersecurity careers. NCSAM seeks to convey messages about online safety and identify opportunities for behavior change through this year's theme.

Own IT

• Never Click and Tell: staying safe on social media
• Update Privacy Settings
• Keep Tabs on Your Apps: best practices for device applications

Secure IT

• Shake Up Your Passphrase Protocol: create strong, unique passphrases
• Double Your Login Protection: turn on multi-factor authentication
• Shop Safe Online
• Play Hard to Get With Strangers: How to spot and avoid phish

Protect IT

• If You Connect, You Must Protect: updating to the latest security software, web browser and operating systems
• Stay Protected While Connected: Wi-Fi safety
• If You Collect It, Protect It: keeping customer/consumer data and information safe

Your community can get involved in NCSAM through social media and by taking action on campus.

• Follow the National Cyber Security Alliance on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn to receive the latest online safety news and resource. Share and RT this information with others.
• Post online safety tips and reminders about NCSAM on your social media networks. Use the hashtags #BeCyberSmart and #CyberAware.
• Download and share sample social media posts from the NCSAM Resources Library leading up to and throughout the month on social media - download and share them all or customize them to your needs and interests!
• Become a NCSAM Champion and show your organization or campus' official involvement in the month. It's free and simple to sign up.
• Post the NCSAM Images and Logos to your campus' external or internal website. You can link to the NCSAM "About" page to provide more info.
• Host a training for campus faculty and staff on cybersecurity. Check out the Free ESET Cybersecurity Awareness Training as a great resource.
• Host a poster/video content for students in which participants create informative online safety resources. Display the winning entries at school or share them with your community.

If you're still looking for ways to get started, view the webinar:

• How to Get Involved in National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019. 

Additional resources, including targeted campaigns, tip sheets, videos, and memes:

• National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019 Toolkit | National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019
  National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS)
• Stop.Think. Connect.

Resources

Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance from the Field
National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)

Promoting Positive Mental Health in Rural Schools
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC)

Students and Cyber-Security Research
International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS)