Cybersecurity Awareness Month was launched by the National Cyber Security Alliance & the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in October 2004 and has been a continued focus in InfoSec communities each October since. On this first day of October, we’re turning our focus toward spreading cybersecurity awareness to help members of our community and the organizations we serve do their part and #BeCyberSmart.

This year’s theme of ‘Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart’ is a call to action for individuals to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace. We each have a role to play in making sure we protect our own devices to ensure the broader security of the individuals of the organizations we are a part of.

To start off this critical month, we wanted to highlight some blog posts that will help to inform you about many areas of cybersecurity and lay the groundwork for your better overall awareness and understanding on the intricacies of cybersecurity and how you can #BeCyberSmart.

Why Cybersecurity Should Not Be an Afterthought in 2020

As organizations increasingly move their assets to the cloud, cybercrime has continued to mature, and the prominence of cyberattacks has grown. Cybersecurity, once a niche faction of a few forward-thinking organizations, is now a central pillar of the modern enterprise… or at least it should be. We read some statistics recently that shocked us. Most importantly:

Only 38 percent of companies listed in the 2019 Fortune 500 were operating without appointing a CISO in position.

Read more statistics like these, and how you can begin your start prioritizing cybersecurity within your organization with Fishtech Group in our blog post “Why Cybersecurity Should Not Be an Afterthought in 2020”.

2020: Not Your Father’s Ransomware

Business leaders and IT professionals have become increasingly familiar with ransomware over the last several years. Time after time, we’re exposed to high-profile stories where brands and organizations we know and love are crippled by cyber criminals encrypting sensitive data and asking for money in exchange for the “safe” return of data.

In 2019 alone, the top 5 largest payouts to cyber criminals made by organizations struck by ransomware totaled over 1.6 million dollars.

Read more about ransomware and some of the straight-forward steps you can take to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim in our blog post “2020: Not Your Father’s Ransomware”.

Six Tips for Boosting Your Insider Threat Deterrence Capabilities

At various times in any insider threat program, there inevitably will be shortcomings in governance, gaps in detection, difficulties tying data to a threat, and substandard responses. So, what’s the best fail-safe when those other important program capabilities fall short? Deterrence.

Deterrence is one of the lowest-cost ways to decrease the threat that malicious and negligent insiders pose to your organization. Because it is often viewed simply as a dull or awkward communications and training function, it rarely gets a second look.

We compiled six strategies for how you can make your deterrence strategy more innovative and effective in our blog post “Six Tips for Boosting Your Insider Threat Deterrence Capabilities”.

Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart

Throughout the rest of the month of October, we will be focusing on many areas of cybersecurity during Cybersecurity Awareness Month so stay tuned to our blog and our social media channels for blogs, videos, infographics, and more so that we can all do our part and #BeCyberSmart.

Next week we will take a deeper look at the theme of the first full week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month: If You Connect It, Protect It. The line between our online and offline lives is indistinguishable. This network of connections creates both opportunities and challenges for individuals and organizations across the globe. The first week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight the ways in which internet-connected devices have impacted our lives and will empower all users to own their role in security by taking steps to reduce their risks.

Learn more about Cybersecurity Awareness Month by visiting the official website, or fill out the form below to talk to our experts about any questions you may have on your journey to protect your part of cyberspace.