CYBERSECURITY BLOG

October 20, 2021

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week # 3 - Explore. Experience. Share. (Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week)

This October is the 18th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The goal of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and ensure that everyone has the information and tools they need to be safer online. The October 2021 theme is "Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart!" and this week's theme is "Explore. Experience. Share".

Week 3 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight the Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week led by National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). This is a week-long campaign that inspires and promotes the exploration of cybersecurity careers. Whether it’s students, veterans, or those seeking a career change, the dynamic field of cybersecurity is rapidly growing and has something for everyone. It is a time to build awareness about the wide range of cybersecurity job opportunities, how cybersecurity plays a vital role in global society and showcase how building a global workforce enhances each nation’s security and promotes economic prosperity.  Learn more about Cybersecurity Career Awareness week here.

 Check out the Cybersecurity Education and Career Resource library. We've compiled free resources focused on fulfilling the mission of diversifying and filling the gap in the cybersecurity workforce. For cybersecurity professionals of today and tomorrow:

•  Cyber Career Awareness Resources (CYBER.ORG)  Career awareness is an important piece in solving the cyber workforce shortage. Explore careers from pen testing to cybersecurity forensics and learn what common job duties are, expected salary, job growth, and what degrees and certifications will help you get there.  
  
  
• Cybersecurity Workforce Training Guide (CISA.GOV)  The Cybersecurity Workforce Training Guide is for current and future federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial staff looking to expand their cybersecurity skills and career options. This Guide helps professionals develop a training plan based on their current skill level and desired career opportunities.

Thank you for doing your part to #BeCyberSmart

October 13, 2021

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week # 2 - Fight the Phish

This October is the 18th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month.  The goal of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and ensure that everyone has the information and tools they need to be safer online.  The October 2021 theme is "Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart!" and this week's theme is "Fight the Phish".

 Phishing attacks and scams have thrived since the COVID pandemic began in 2020 and today, phishing attacks account for more than 80 percent of reported security incidents.  Week 2 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will stress the importance of being wary of emails, text messages or chat boxes that come from a stranger or someone you were not expecting. Think before you click on any suspicious emails, links or attachments and make sure to report any suspicious emails if you can!

 Email is an effective way for criminals to send malware or scams to an unsuspecting victim and text-based threats are rising as more people do more on mobile devices. If you are even a little bit suspicious of a text message or email – do not click.  The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) has a take-action tip sheet to help everyone answer the question "To click or not to click".   Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has tip sheets to help you stay safe online, including:

• Phishing and Spoofing
• Identity Theft and Internet Scams

 Thank you for doing your part to #BeCyberSmart

October 8, 2021

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week #1 - Be Cyber Smart

This October is the 18th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The goal of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and ensure that everyone has the information and tools they need to be safer online. The October 2021 theme is "Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart!" and this week's theme is "Be Cyber Smart".

As our lives have become increasingly dependent on technology, virtually all personal and business data is kept on internet-connected platforms, which can become a gold mine for bad actors. The first full week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight best security practices and focus on general cyber hygiene to keep your information safe. Own your role in cybersecurity by starting with the basics. Creating strong passwords and using multi-factor authentication, backing up your data, and updating your software are great places to start. This is a great way to Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart!

There are many steps we can take to enhance our cybersecurity without requiring a significant investment or the help of an information security professional. The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) has basic tips you can put into action right now. Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has multiple tip sheets to help everyone stay safe online:

• Social Media Security
• Creating Passwords
• Online Privacy
• Multi-Factor Authentication
• Cybersecurity While Traveling
• Cybersecurity at Work

Thank you for doing your part to #BeCyberSmart

October 9, 2018

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week # 2

The theme of Week #2 is: "Millions of Rewarding Jobs: Educating for a Career in Cybersecurity". Visit our National Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage for more information.

October 7, 2018

Election Security

With elections quickly approaching, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) governments are partnering with federal and national organizations to prepare for possible interference from bad actors. Free and fair elections is the cornerstone of United States democracy, so some other nations are trying to undermine our democracy by attacking the US Election Infrastructure.

In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security designated Election Infrastructure as a Critical Infrastructure Sub-sector: "I have reached this determination so that election infrastructure will, on a more formal and enduring basis, be a priority for cybersecurity assistance and protections that the Department of Homeland Security provides to a range of private and public sector entities". Election Infrastructure is defined as: "storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulations locations used to support the election process, and information and communications technology to include voter registration databases, voting machines, and other systems to manage the election process and report and display results on behalf of state and local governments".

The bad actors are not just trying to disable or manipulate voter registration or vote counts, they are also trying to propagate misinformation, which can have a negative impact on the public's confidence in the validity of our democratic elections. Election Security is not just a responsibility for the IT Security department or the Secretary of State, it isthe responsibility of all SLTT government employees. One click on a malicious link in a phishing email by a SLTT employee has the potential to introduce malware into the IT environment.Therefore, everyone must endeavor to be extra diligent in everything we do at work to do our part in protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Election Infrastructure. For more information about Election Security, visit:

• Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EI-ISAC)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• 2018 HAVA Election Security Fund

October 5, 2018

Kids Safe Online Poster Contest

The Governor’s office, the State Information Technology Services Division (SITSD), and the Montana Information Security Advisory Council (MT-ISAC) are conducting a state-wide kindergarten through 12th grade computer safety contest in conjunction with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). We encourage teachers and educators to use this contest to address cybersecurity awareness and online safety in their classrooms. Visit our Kids Safe Online Poster Contest webpage for more information.

October 3, 2018

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Week # 1

The theme of Week #1 is: "Make your Home a Haven for Online Safety". Visit our National Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage for more information.

October 1, 2018

2018 National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)

Today marks the beginning of the 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). NCSAM 2018 will highlight user awareness by addressing specific challenges and identify opportunities for behavioral change. It will also remind everyone that protecting the internet is “Our Shared Responsibility.” NCSAM 2018 will also address the critical need to build a strong, cybersecurity workforce to help ensure families, communities, businesses, and the country’s infrastructure are protected against increasingly more prevalent and sophisticated threats. Visit our National Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage for more information.