There's Never Been A Better Time To #BeCyberSmart
Author Monique Head - Security Manager for Security Education, and Awareness
October is traditionally a time where all things scary are highlighted — it’s a time of tricks and treats. But a real threat also lurks in our homes’ computers, mobile devices, and IoT devices. What could happen if we succumb to a hacking attack is far more scary. Each October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) shines a light on these and other real threats to our security.
During this month, all things related to cybersecurity are front and center. It’s a time to take stock of our actions and what we can do to improve our security behaviors. NCSAM is not only an annual reminder of the importance of such behaviors, but it’s a great opportunity to share best practices for securing your laptop with up-to-date patches, remember to be aware of what you click on before you click, and be mindful of not sharing too much information on social media so we don’t compromise our personal information.
All through the month of October, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) sponsor NCSAM to encourage and empower individuals and organizations to own their own role in keeping the digital world safe by exercising good cyber awareness practices.
At Palo Alto Networks, our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before, and every single one of us has a part to play. We all must be self-aware of our actions to help keep the bad guys out. Even though we may work in cybersecurity, it’s easy to forget some basic security behaviors. It takes effort on our part to stay mindful of things we can do to stay secure, but it is worth it. For example, never click on a link in your email unless you can verify the source (hover over the link to see the true source). Don’t click on links in text messages unless they are from trusted sources. Always keep your device's software updated, and change all default passwords on purchased devices like internet routers. These are everyday habits we should apply in our lives — both at home AND at work. Now, because of the pandemic, more people than ever before are working, schooling, playing, connecting, and shopping online, which means that cyber-safe practices have never been more important.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a perfect vehicle for showcasing the individual, daily practices we can each follow to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe — and in a way that’s engaging, relevant to our lives, and, most importantly, fun!
This post is sponsored by Palo Alto Networks