National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a month-long event held in October aimed at promoting cybersecurity and sharing best practices to help individuals and organizations protect themselves online. The theme in 2024 is “Secure Our World.” The awareness campaign will be led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
The 2024 theme: “Secure Our World”
The 2024 campaign emphasizes the role everyone plays in defending against cyber threats by maintaining proper behavior online and developing good cybersecurity habits. To promote the theme “Secure Our World,” the program recommends four simple steps to enhance online safety, safeguard personal information, and hinder the successful attacks of cybercriminals:
- Recognize and Report Phishing:
Stay meticulous against unsolicited communications, suspicious requests for personal data, and unknown sources. Always report emails or messages that seem suspicious right away. - Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager:
Protect your accounts with strong passwords that include numbers, symbols, upper and lowercase letters. Consider using a password manager to generate and safely keep complex passwords. - Activate Multifactor Authentication:
Enhance your account security by enabling MFA, especially for sensitive accounts such as email, financial services, and social media platforms. - Update your Software:
Regularly update all software to the latest version and apply security patches. When automatic updates are not available, personally check for updates often.
Focus on cybersecurity in the healthcare sector
Everyone is urged to follow personal cyber hygiene as the Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time for healthcare companies to enhance their cybersecurity standing. This could be attained by adopting HIPAA encryption and by reaching the voluntary Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs), launched at the beginning of this year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The healthcare-specific CPGs are divided into two categories and are based on CISA’s Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals. The CPGs provide measures to reinforce defenses against cyberattacks, enhance incident response capabilities, and reduce overall cyber risks. Once the goals are in place, healthcare organizations can strengthen their security by adopting the CPGs, which address broader potential threats.
By following these guidelines, individuals and organizations can contribute to reducing the likelihood of falling victim to cyberattacks. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a perfect opportunity to prioritize security and adopt new habits.
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