October marks U.S. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). This is an initiative launched in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance.
The goal was to have a dedicated month to reinforce the importance of safeguarding the online presence. It began as a U.S. effort, but the message has resonated far and wide. Today, numerous countries around the globe have embraced similar schemes, underscoring that cyber threats do not recognize national borders.
In tune with other national schemes, cybersecurity awareness during October becomes a collective call to action, urging individuals and organizations to prioritize online safety, no matter where they are located.
Reaching out to Digital Journal to explain the significance of the day is Jason Dettbarn, Founder & CEO, Addigy. Dettbarn considers how cybersecurity has emerged from the shadows to become part of the mainstream areas of any major and reputable business unit.
Dettbarn observes: “Cybersecurity has moved from an afterthought to one of the more important decisions in the boardroom, as executives have come to understand the potential scale and impact of attacks. Breaches don’t just cost money – they can debilitate a company.”
Dettbarn adds that those at the top of the organisation or who act as subject matter experts need to show leadership: “IT leaders need to ensure they are leveraging the right security processes and tools to maintain compliance vigilance, which includes a layered approach to OS Patching, Application Patching, adhering to Compliance Frameworks, and End-User Authentication Management. The speed and impact of Zero Day vulnerabilities highlight the importance of applying these patches throughout an organization’s entire fleet of devices in a timely fashion. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a good reminder of this.”
Also commenting on the events is Carl D’Halluin, CTO, Datadobi. D’Halluin tunrs his attention to how data is handled within the business, recommending: “Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a critical reminder that effective cybersecurity isn’t solely about building higher walls against external threats. It’s equally about understanding and managing the data you already hold within those walls. Illegal and orphaned data are prime examples of internal vulnerabilities that often go overlooked.”
D’Halluin says that firms need to ‘know their data’. Here he recommends: “The risks of harbouring illegal data are multi-faceted, spanning potential legal issues, reputational harm, and increased susceptibility to network compromise due to embedded malware. Orphaned data, often accumulating unnoticed due to employee turnover, can pose governance and compliance risks.”
This is something that companies can build upon throughout October: “This month-long focus is not just an opportunity but a necessity for organizations to deepen their commitment to employing the necessary methodologies and technologies that enable effective internal data governance and oversight. A proactive, inside-out approach to cybersecurity has never been more crucial.”
