October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this year’s theme is Building a Cyber Strong America, The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced this week.
CISA will provide partner agencies and the private sector with tools, support and information to secure vital services such as communications, finance, food, power and water. The help can be accessed on the agency’s website. The campaign also recommends governments, businesses and entities involved in supply chains take cybersecurity seriously.
“Critical infrastructure – whether in the hands of state and local entities, private businesses, or supply chain partners – is the backbone of our daily lives,” Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala said. “Whenever it’s disrupted, the effects ripple through communities across America. That’s why this year CISA is prioritizing the security and resilience of small- and medium- businesses, and state, local, tribal, and territorial government that facilitate the systems and services sustain us every day.”
CISA and the Department of Homeland Security urge Americans to remain vigilant and work to neutralize cyber threats before they can cause damage. The agencies recommend cybersecurity best practices including turning on multifactor authentication, requiring strong passwords, recognizing and reporting phishing, keeping software updated, making encryption part of security strategies, encrypting sensitive information, backing up data, and enabling system logging of systems.