Those who know me also know that I spend A LOT of time in my car. I use this time to think, ponder, observe and work. With that in mind, it probably comes as no surprise that yesterday, as I watched geese fly over my car in a V and listened to a news blurb about how Barbie and other dolls want a place in Christmas stockings this year, that I was also thinking about what I wanted to write for my first post for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM).
I thought about selecting one of the topics I outlined last month when I was trying to decide if I would, like last year, upload blog posts daily throughout NCSAM. I decided using one of them would mean jumping right into the thick of things, which would be fine, except that there would be little or no context for the posts. This thinking fell in line with my conclusion a couple of weeks ago that we’ve generally become a society of snippets. Every time I write a post, for example, there’s a small voice that tries to remind me of the optimal length for posts so one doesn’t lose readers’ attention. But that’s a topic for another day.
So, before I begin with what will most likely be an almost daily schedule of posts for NCSAM, let’s consider how cybersecurity affects us.
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Even if you don’t have a smart phone or you consider yourself unplugged, cybersecurity is still something you need to be concerned with because your data is stored somewhere electronically if you live in the United States and many other countries. In the U.S., for example, the government stores information on social security numbers and taxes, and of course, birth and death records, and motor vehicle and driver’s license information.
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If you do use the Internet or post on Facebook regularly, for example, you need to at least know the basics of good cyber hygiene. While companies must comply with certain data privacy regulations, and their terms of use and privacy policies, YOU are also responsible for safeguarding your data.
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If you work for a business or own/oversee one, it’s important to realize cybersecurity is for ALL employees, from the Chief Executive Officer to the janitor, and that a creating a security culture should be as important as implementing new security software or purchasing security services.
In other words, cybersecurity is for everyone and all organizations, which is why we dedicate an entire month to awareness activities. Of course, and this won’t come as a surprise for those familiar with the cybersecurity skills gap, it’s also a great opportunity for those in the profession to say, “Come join us!”
As the festivities get underway, on my blog and elsewhere, keep in mind that we are in this together. Cybersecurity affects all of us!