The National Cyber Security Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency invite you to celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 this October as we raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and ensure that all individuals and organizations have the information and tools they need to be safer and more secure online. “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”
Cybersecurity Awareness Month was created by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance in October of 2004. It was launched in an effort to help Americans to be safe in the rapidly growing Internet. Since its inception, the month has only grown more important as our lives become increasingly digitized. Many high-ranking US officials have been a part of the event including former DHS Secretaries and former Presidents. We are only one of many industry participants who are taking this month to educate our community on the importance of cybersecurity. College campuses, non-profits, and other organizations frequently join in on the fun as well.
We will be celebrating throughout October with posts and events that will include some of the biggest thought leaders in Health IT today. Each year the alliance selects weekly themes focusing on a specific areas to draw attention and learn more. Here are this year’s themes.
Week of October 4 (Week 1): 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!
Week of October 11 (Week 2): 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!
Week of October 18 (Week 3): Explore. Experience. Share – (Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week)
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
Learn more about Cybersecurity Career Awareness week here.
Week of October 25 (Week 4): Cybersecurity First
Week 4 is all about making security a priority. For businesses, this means building security into products and processes. Make cybersecurity training a part of employee onboarding and equip staff with the tools they need to keep the organization safe. For individuals, keep cybersecurity at the forefront of your mind as you connect daily. Before purchasing a device or online product, do your research. When you set up a new device or app, consider your security and privacy settings and update default passwords. Cybersecurity should not be an afterthought.
Don’t Miss our Cybersecurity Virtual Panel Discussion on October 26 at 1pm ET
It has been six years since our first panel discussion addressing the growing and alarming rise of cybersecurity threats to healthcare. In the ensuing years, data breaches and ransomware attacks continue to plague the industry. In fact, through double extortion, the two attacks are often combined.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the increased usage of telehealth and connected personal and medical devices have led to an exponential volume of incidents, enticing more malicious actors and more sophisticated attacks. And while technology advancements in Cloud, IoT, and 5G offer organizations the chance to modernize their IT infrastructure, cybersecurity threats are advancing on parallel lines as digital healthcare evolves.
On this year’s panel discussion, our experts from around the industry will discuss the challenges healthcare organizations face, what the future may hold, and what can be done to fortify security protocols and guardrails to minimize risk.
Moderator David Harlow, Esq.
Host of Harlow on Healthcare
Panelists:
- Heather Randall, PhD, Chief Compliance Officer, Sphere
- David Finn, Vice President, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
- Parham Eftekhari, Founder & Chairman, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT)
