For the eighth year in a row, October has been declared National Cyber Security Awareness Month, a time to educate the public on how to protect themselves online. Organizations from the Lexington, Ky.-based National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide extra resources during the month to spread online safety.
Organized by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a consortium of government agencies and private industry sponsors, National Cyber Security Awareness Month is designed to increase the public's awareness of cyber security and crime issues, so that computer users can take precautions to avoid those threats on the Internet, according to NASCIO. Public relations activities, educational programs, events and initiatives that target home users, small businesses, education audiences (K-12 and higher education), and child safety online will be featured throughout October.
As part of its recognition of the month, NASCIO has updated its Resource Guide for State Cyber Security Awareness, Education, and Training Initiatives. "States are undertaking important work to educate and train employees, citizens and policy officials on the importance of cyber security during National Cyber Security Awareness Month," Kyle Schafer, NASCIO president and West Virginia chief technology officer, said in a statement. "Security awareness and education consistently find themselves at the top of state CIOs' biggest concerns each year, according to our national surveys."

The East Greenbush, N.Y.-based Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MSISAC) also sponsors National Cyber Security Awareness Month along with NCSA, NASCIO and DHS. Read more about the month's activities from NCSA, DHS, NASCIO and MSISAC.
