IT to Provide Tips, Stress Vigilance During Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Even the smartest internet user can make that one wrong move that leads to a phishing scam. Vigilance is important—at home as well as at work. During October, which is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the IT Directorate will put extra emphasis on how to stay safe in cyberspace.
During October, IT will send out a weekly email addressing a cybersecurity topic. Digital flyers will also illustrate steps for staying secure.
“There are four key focal points this year,” said Data Security Analyst Conner Vaughan. “The main one is phishing. That’s typically the main vehicle that hackers use. There are some other vehicles, but that’s the most common.”
The other focal points are multifactor authentication, strong passwords and keeping software updated.
“Some people have automatic updates for their major software,” Vaughan said. “But if you don’t, you might miss an alert to update your software. We’ll remind people to update their software regularly. Companies that operate software programs often find vulnerabilities, and the updates help protect you.”
Cybersecurity is important at home, but it has become even more crucial since the COVID pandemic began in March 2020 and more people started working at home. And the vigilance should go beyond what you do for work.
“The same practices you use at work, you should use at home,” said Systems Analyst Lead Sean Bradford. “If you do that in both places, you’re going to have a better track record.”
The flyers, which will appear on the Exchange portal, will provide educational material and advice about each of these topics. For instance, if a website offers multifactor authentication, you should take advantage of it, because it greatly increases the security of your account. There will also be tips on using online password managers; how to recognize and block phishing attempts; and best software-updating practices.
The weekly emails go deeper, with tips from the National Cybersecurity Alliance on how to secure your home network as well as information on data breaches and the role associates can play in avoiding them.
“We’ll have some social media posts going out on the internal pages as well,” Bradford said. The digital media team has also produced Cybersecurity Awareness Month videos.
To learn more about cybersecurity, visit the Cybersecurity page on the Exchange portal. You can also visit the National Cybersecurity Alliance website for tips.
For a video about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, click here.
If you suspect you have received a phishing attempt via email, click the “report phishing” icon at the top right of your email screen or send an email to SpamReporting@aafes.com
