Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion organizations are dedicated to promoting a safer, more secure, and more trusted internet.
October 02, 2023 – Columbus, Ohio – thinkCSC today announced that it has signed on as Champion for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023, continuing their commitment to improving cybersecurity and internet safety for both individuals and businesses. The month is dedicated to ensuring everyone has the resources to stay safe and secure online, and this October marks the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
“thinkCSC has participated in Cybersecurity Awareness Month for several years. It is an essential commitment by our industry to dedicate ourselves to improving education and employee awareness about the risks and threats that continue to proliferate,” says Michael Stratos, CEO of thinkCSC. “We are proud to support this worthwhile effort to increase online safety and cybersecurity.”
2023 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Themes
This year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month themes will concentrate on enabling multi-factor authentication, creating strong passwords and using a password manager, updating software, and recognizing and reporting phishing attempts.
These four areas of emphasis are explained by the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA):
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Less than two-thirds (57%) of respondents to an NCA survey say they have heard of multi-factor authentication (MFA). Many people don’t realize that MFA is an incredibly important tool that goes a long way towards keeping accounts secure. In fact, of those who knew about it, most had applied MFA to their online accounts (79%) and were still using it (94%), showing that once MFA is enabled, users will continue the practice. This month, we’re showing others how easy it is to enable MFA wherever possible.
Create Strong Passwords and Use a Password Manager
As our online lives have expanded, we’ve gone from having just a few passwords to managing upwards of 100. If you’re faithfully using strong password habits, this means that you may have 100 unique passwords to remember. Password managers can save users a lot of headaches, making accounts safer by recommending stronger passwords. This October, we’re dispelling the misconceptions about password managers and showing others how these tools can help keep them safe online.
Update Software
Almost 2 in 5 survey respondents say they either “sometimes,” “rarely,” or “never” install software updates. One of the easiest ways to keep information secure is to keep software and apps updated. Updates fix general software problems and provide new security patches that inhibit criminal access. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re telling others to avoid selecting the “remind me later” option and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Recognize and Report Phishing
Phishing attacks increased by 61% in 2022, according to SlashNext. Phishing attacks have become an increasingly common problem for organizations of all sizes and are often very difficult to spot. Thirty percent of small businesses consider phishing attacks to be their top cybersecurity concern. It’s important that every individual know how to spot the red flags and think before clicking on a link or a message attachment. Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 will give individuals the tools they need to recognize a phishing attack and report it to their organizations or email providers.
thinkCSC’s Commitment
As a managed IT company, being a Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion means taking a leadership role in the realm of digital security, advocating for robust cyber defenses, and nurturing a culture of vigilance among clients and partners. As a trusted source of cybersecurity expertise, thinkCSC is committed to diligently educating clients about evolving digital threats; emphasizing the importance of strong password policies, secure browsing habits, and regular system updates; actively promoting awareness; and fostering a sense of collective responsibility, to contribute to a safer online environment.
About thinkCSC
Since 1992, thinkCSC has been committed to delivering innovative and cost-effective IT solutions to central Ohio. Acquired by Ideal Integrations in 2023, thinkCSC’s ability to provide comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to our clients has grown even stronger. Our dedicated team works with you to align your IT strategy with your business goals, helping to ensure seamless operations, compliance, and robust cybersecurity in a rapidly changing global environment.
We bring 30 years of experience and expertise to the table and offer customized solutions for SMBs, nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and a variety of industries, including accounting, banking, and insurance. The bottom line? We keep your team productive and your data secure. Visit thinkcsc.com to learn more.
About Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month was conceived to engage with and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives, with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity and increasing the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the presidential proclamation establishing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the initiative has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state, and local governments, as well as leaders across industries. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/
About National Cybersecurity Alliance
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world. We advocate for the safe use of all technology and educate everyone on how best to protect ourselves, our families, and our organizations from cybercrime. We create strong partnerships between governments and corporations, to amplify our message and to foster a greater digital good. For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org.
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Media Contact:
Shadra Bruce
DaSh factor LLC
shadra@dashfactor.com
