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Creating partnerships to raise cybersecurity awareness at home and abroad.
About
Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, time dedicated for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.
Over the years it has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk, and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale. October 2024 marks the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
Secure Our World
Starting in 2023 with the launch of CISA’s cybersecurity awareness program,Secure Our World is the enduring Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme. This theme recognizes the importance of taking daily action to reduce risks when online and using connected to devices. Organizations can use the Secure Our World theme when planning for this and future Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaigns.
Below you will find free resources to support Cybersecurity Awareness Month activities. In addition, we have outlined the simple actions we can all take not only during October, but every day throughout the year to stay safe online.
Four Easy Ways to Stay Safe Online
Let’s work together to build a safer digital world. We can increase our online safety through four simple actions, and whether at home, work, or school, these tips make us more secure when connected. Take time to discuss them with family, friends, employees and your community so we can all become safer online!
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are long, random, and unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.
Turn On MFA
You need more than a password to protect your online accounts; enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts.
Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
Update Software
Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are unavailable.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 Toolkit
CISA collaborated with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) to create resources and messaging for organizations to use to build their own campaigns. Download the free toolkit below👇
Download Toolkit (English)
Download Toolkit (Spanish)
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 Kick-off
Join CISA and NCA on October 2, 2024, at 2pm ET as we kick-off Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Hear from elected officials, government leaders, and industry executives, as they come together to reflect on decades of success and what challenges lie ahead.
Filling the Cyber Workforce Gap: The Talent Development Initiatives at CISA
Cybersecurity Career Week is right around the corner, running from October 14-19, 2024. Don’t miss CISA’s special webinar on October 16, 2024, at 2pm ET, where we’ll be highlighting some exciting talent development initiatives designed to bridge the cyber workforce gap.
Protecting School Systems: Understanding Cybersecurity Threats to K-12
Don’t miss out on a valuable opportunity to safeguard your school’s digital infrastructure by joining CISA’s special webinar on October 23, 2024, at 12pm ET, where you’ll learn about common threats facing school systems and tips on how to protect against them.
CISA Live! Events
CISA will be hosting several live events on the LinkedIn Live platform throughout the month of October. Stay tuned for dates.
Learn more
CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 Webinar Series
During Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023, CISA hosted a series of free, virtual webinars about each of the four key online safety behaviors.
Become a Cybersecurity Awareness Month Partner!
Partnering with CISA for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great way for us to work together and share the importance of reducing risks when we are online or using connected devices. For more information, email us atAwarenessCampaigns@mail.cisa.dhs.gov.
Related Content
Secure Our World
Simple ways to protect yourself, your family and your business from online threats.
Become a Secure Our World Partner
Help CISA increase the security of our nation by partnering with our Secure Our World program.
Secure Our World Videos
Learn more about the four easy ways to stay safe online by watching our YouTube videos.
