Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Staying Safe Online

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on October 5, 2024
- 1:20 pm

OCS News:

Office of Cybersecurity uses month to promote best practices

SANTA FE — The Office of Cybersecurity (OCS) announces its commitment to cybersecurity by participating in the 21st Annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Founded in 2004, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, held each October, is the world’s foremost initiative aimed at promoting cyber information and best practices. This is a collaborative effort among government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations, tribal communities, and individuals committed to educating others about online cyber safety.

“The Office of Cybersecurity worked with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to issue a proclamation in New Mexico recognizing October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month,” said Raja Sambandam, state chief information security officer. “We recognize the critical role cybersecurity plays in safeguarding New Mexico’s citizens and state’s digital assets from malicious actors that could severely impact our state digital landscape.”

The proclamation for New Mexico underscores the essential responsibility of the state to protect constituents from cyber threats by inspiring, engaging and informing the public about cybersecurity hygiene.

There are four easy steps to begin improving online safety:

Understand the benefits of using a password manager and dispelling existing myths around password manager security and ease of use;
Turn on multifactor authentication on personal devices and business networks;
Recognize and report phishing – still one of the primary threat actions used by cybercriminals today; and
Install updates on a regular basis and turn on automated updates.

OCS and the New Mexico Department of Information Technology are proud to support Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the theme Secure Our World, led by CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month and how to participate, visit cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month and staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.