Kickoff to the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Highlights and Key Takeaways

Cybersecurity Awareness Month, co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has raised awareness about digital security since 2004. As it enters its 21st year, the focus has shifted from simply increasing awareness to driving actionable steps that individuals, families, businesses, and organizations can take to protect themselves against cyber threats.

This year's Cybersecurity Awareness Month officially kicked off on Oct. 2 with a webinar that brought together its partner organizations, which the Alliance refers to as Champions, to discuss initiatives and strategies to create a safer, more secure digital world. The event featured experts and leaders from across sectors who shared insights on the latest developments in cybersecurity and how partnerships between public and private organizations can strengthen the nation's digital infrastructure.

During the kickoff, Jennifer Cook, the senior director of marketing of the NCA, set the stage by highlighting the organization's role in empowering a more secure, interconnected world. The NCA's initiatives run annually and target a broad audience, including kids, small businesses, and security professionals. These programs, which offer free resources, events, and guides, aim to provide people and organizations with the tools to stay safe online.

Highlights from the Kickoff Event

Lisa Plaggemier, NCA's Executive Director, underscored the importance of strong partnerships with governments, corporations, and individuals to amplify the message of cybersecurity. Her remarks were supported by data from the 2024 Online Vulnerability Assessment (OVA) report.

"The latest insight from our 2024 OVA report shows a shift in attitudes toward online safety," she said. "For example, 54% of people say it's easy to stay secure online, a promising 4% increase from last year. However, 35% of participants reported being victims of cybercrime, a reminder that our work is far from over."

Nitin Natarajan, Deputy Director of CISA, provided a deep dive into the current cyber threat landscape, pointing out the persistent and growing capabilities of nation-states like China, Russia, and Iran to disrupt critical infrastructure. He emphasized that while the threat landscape has evolved, the collective efforts of public and private sectors have significantly reduced the nation's cyber risk over the past two decades.

The Evolution of Cybersecurity Awareness

In 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month began as a collaborative effort to highlight the growing threat of cyber attacks and promote a team approach to tackle cybersecurity nationally and globally. Today, it's more than just a month of activities—it catalyzes ongoing discussions and actions. With the theme "Secure Our World," this year's campaign encourages everyone to take simple steps that reduce their risk online, such as using multi-factor authentication, creating strong passwords, and keeping software updated.

TEXPERS Joins the Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a Champion

This year, the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems is partnering with the National Cyber Security Alliance as a Champion to promote cybersecurity awareness among its members. By participating as a Champion, TEXPERS is committed to bringing awareness to digital security through targeted content, blog posts, social media updates, and an educational webinar for the Association's System Members scheduled for Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. CT.

The webinar, offering one Continuing Education (CE) hour, is designed for pension fund trustees and administrators looking to fulfill state-mandated training requirements. It will be based on the NCA's recent 2024 Online Vulnerability Assessment report, which provides critical insights into the public's perspectives and behaviors surrounding digital security. The webinar will allow attendees to compare their thoughts and practices with the research findings and cut through the confusion by offering straightforward, practical advice and tips on keeping themselves, their organizations, and their annuitants safe and secure. For more information about the webinar and to register, visit the TEXPERS website.

Addressing the Challenges Ahead

One key theme during the kickoff event was the balance between raising awareness and enabling action. While awareness is crucial, the experts at the event agreed that the next step is to integrate cybersecurity practices into everyday routines and organizational processes. This year's campaign aims to shift awareness to actionable practices everyone can adopt. Natarajan emphasized that the challenge is real but balanced by innovation and a collaborative approach.

"Our message has always been simple, take care of the fundamentals," he said. "Basic cyber hygiene is key, like creating strong passwords, updating your software using multi-factor authentication and watching after scams and phishing apps. The one thing I will always guarantee you is nobody is going to send you a million dollars to get an email. So, simple steps such as these can really help make a difference."

Additionally, he highlighted the agency's efforts to work with technology partners to ensure their products are secure by design, taking the burden off consumers and small businesses.

The Role of AI in Cybersecurity

AI has emerged as both an opportunity and a challenge in cybersecurity. AI can accelerate the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber attacks. Still, it can also serve as a tool for defense. The panel discussed how AI can enhance cybersecurity measures and how malicious actors leverage the technology for their gain. The consensus was that while AI offers a pathway to improve security, it requires careful management and the development of guidelines to minimize risk.

Federal Government's Commitment to Skills-Based Hiring

During the event, Deputy National Cyber Director Harry Wingo highlighted the federal government's commitment to building a strong cybersecurity workforce through skills-based hiring initiatives. The government is shifting its approach to hiring IT professionals by focusing more on skills and competencies rather than traditional degree requirements.

One of the key changes involves transitioning the Information Technology Management series, called the 2210 series, to fully adopt skills-based hiring principles and practices. This job series, which accounts for nearly 100,000 IT workers across federal agencies, will prioritize hands-on skills and capabilities over formal education. This shift will take effect next summer and aims to open the doors for a broader pool of qualified candidates, including those who are self-taught or have non-traditional educational backgrounds.

The Biden-Harris administration has also announced efforts to encourage federal contractors to follow a similar model. Agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy are already implementing skills-based hiring in IT and cybersecurity contracts. The federal government also launched the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, which provides scholarships for students pursuing cyber-focused degrees and guarantees federal employment upon graduation.

For those interested in exploring a career in cybersecurity within the federal government, there are numerous opportunities to get involved. The White House website offers career resources and information for Americans seeking to begin their cybersecurity careers. To learn more about available positions and federal initiatives to build a robust cyber workforce, visit whitehouse.gov/service-for-America.

Industry Collaboration for a Safer Digital World

The NCA and CISA are also working to bring together leaders from various industries to create a more resilient digital infrastructure. This includes initiatives like the "Secure by Design" pledge, where companies commit to integrating security into the development process rather than treating it as an afterthought. This initiative has seen widespread adoption, with over 200 companies signing the pledge.

For more information and resources on how to stay secure online, including a recording of this webinar, visit StaySafeOnline.org. Explore the Service for America page for those interested in pursuing a cybersecurity career within the federal government to learn more about career paths, training opportunities, and upcoming hiring initiatives. 

Additional Resources:

About the Author:

Allen Jones is the director of communications and event marketing for TEXPERS. He joined the Association in 2017. Before TEXPERS, he worked in the news media industry, producing content for newspapers, magazines, and online publications and leading newsrooms as an editor and publications manager. [email protected]
 

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