National Cyber Security Awareness Month

The most serious economic and national security challenges we face are cyber threats. America's economic prosperity and competitiveness in the 21st Century depends on effective cybersecurity. Every Internet user has a role to play in securing cyberspace and ensuring the safety of themselves and their families online.

October 2011 marks the eighth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC).

Our Shared Responsibility

The overarching theme for National Cyber Security Awareness Month is “Our Shared Responsibility,” which reflects the interconnectedness of the modern world and the message that all computer users have a role in securing cyberspace.

Through a series of events and initiatives across the country, Awareness Month engages public and private sector partners to raise awareness and educate Americans about cybersecurity, and increase the resiliency of the Nation and its cyber infrastructure.

Americans can follow a few simple steps to keep themselves, their personal assets, and private information safe online. This year, we will also prominently feature a different critical cybersecurity issue each week in October.

	Week One:  Stop.Think.Connect	Emphasizes general cybersecurity awareness with events highlighting the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign
	Week Two:  Education / Workforce	Showcases the urgent need to develop cyber education programs to train the next generation cyber workforce
	Week Three:  Cyber Crime	Focuses on national and local efforts to prevent identity theft and other cyber crimes
	Week Four:  Small Business	Highlights strategies small- and medium-sized business owners can use to bolster their own cybersecurity defenses

Do Your Part

Here are a few simple things businesses, schools, and home users can do to practice cybersecurity during National Cyber Security Awareness Month and throughout the year:

• Find or register a local National Cyber Security Awareness Month event on our official calendar.
• Show your organization's commitment to cybersecurity by signing the online endorsement form and becoming a National Cyber Security Awareness Month Champion.
• Download tip sheets on how to stay safe in a variety of online settings: on social networking sites, on gaming sites, on your mobile device, and distribute them within your community.
• Participate in the NCSA's Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education (C-SAVE) Program and help educate elementary, middle, and high school students about Internet safety and security.
• Add a signature block to your e-mail: "October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Stay Safe Online! Visit www.staysafeonline.org for the latest cybersecurity tips."