Momentum Growing for October's National Cyber Security Awareness Month

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a public-private partnership focused on educating a digital citizenry to stay safe and secure online, continues to see unprecedented interest and participation in the 2010 National Cyber Security Awareness Month from a variety of companies, educators and government agencies.

NCSA, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, sponsors National Cyber Security Awareness Month every October since its founding in 2003. The three organizations work together to help consumers, schools, businesses and government agencies stay safe online, with October being a special time for focused public awareness and education.  

The month will kick off with three major events on the West and East Coasts:

On October 4, the NCSA will hold the National Cyber Security Awareness Month Launch Event at the Seattle Public Library in Seattle, Wash., from 9 am to 12 pm Pacific Time (12 to 3 pm Eastern Time). Howard Schmidt, Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator of the White House, and Jane Holl Lute, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will deliver keynotes at the event.  The NCSA along with several partners and senior government officials will launch a new public education and awareness campaign created by government and industry.  For more information and to register to attend visit: http://ncsamlaunch2010.eventbrite.com/ .

Also as part of the launch event on October 4, TechAmerica and the NCSA will kick off National Cyber Security Awareness Month from the East Coast from 9 am to 11 am Pacific Time (12 to 2 pm Eastern Time), hosted by Lockheed Martin in Arlington, Va.  Speakers will include Charles Croom, Vice President of Cyber Security Solutions, Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions, and Phil Bond, President and CEO, TechAmerica. The Seattle and Arlington events will each be simulcast so that participants can attend the events virtually. For more information and to register visit: http://www.techamerica.org/cybersecurity2010.

In addition, the NCSA and the Anti-Phishing Working Group will hold an all-day event on October 6 at Intel corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif.  The event will be a celebration and call to action to employ the new unified message created by a coalition of industry, nonprofit and government.  Panels will discuss details of the campaign, the research that was conducted, and how together we can implement this message to make people safer and more secure online and create a culture of cyber awareness. To view the full agenda and to register visit: http://oct6ncsam.eventbrite.com.

However, National Cyber Security Awareness Month is only successful if organizations across the country organically promote and educate the behaviors and actions that will enable a more secure and safe online experience.  Companies, organizations, libraries and universities have major events and initiatives planned and ready for implementation in October.  Among the many events include:

• Lockheed Martin with the Tech Council of Maryland will host high school students for a Cyber Security Awareness Day at their NexGen Cyber Innovation and Technology Center in Maryland to teach them about staying safe online and careers in cybersecurity.

• EMC and its RSA Security Division will send hundreds of volunteers out to K-12 schools and youth-based programs in 22 states and six countries to teach children and teens about online safety practices and behaviors. The volunteers, who will lead sessions throughout October, will use NCSA's Cyber Security Awareness Volunteer Education (C-SAVE) curriculum.

"National Cyber Security Awareness Month has become an annual success due to the tremendous coordination and participation from a wide array of citizens, companies, organizations and governments throughout the nation," said NCSA Executive Director Michael Kaiser. "Cyber security is our shared responsibility and last year we reached millions of Americans with that important message and this year hope to reach even more. We applaud those organizations that have already taken the initiative to participate in the National Cyber Security Awareness Month and encourage others to visit our Web site for other ways they can help make our online community safer and more secure."

Anyone – family, employers, consumers, teachers, and students – interested in online safety is encouraged to access the National Cyber Security Awareness Month Web portal.  The Web site hosts an abundance of information including tip sheets, ideas for how to get involved, events, and additional awareness resources to help organizations and individuals participate in the public awareness and education campaign.

The portal offers printable materials for schools, businesses, government agencies, law enforcement and consumers as well as electronic materials for organizations to incorporate on their own websites. All NCSA materials are free and there is no cost for endorsements or event listings.  Of the many resources on the site you will find:

• Tip Sheets: For online gaming, mobile devices, social networking and general Internet safety tips for parents and kids.
• Customizable Posters: A National Cyber Security Awareness Month poster that can be customized with a company or association logo or a message to help promote local activities.
• Endorsement Forms: Organizations, companies, and government agencies are encouraged to endorse National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is made easy through an online endorsement form. Endorsers can be featured with their logo and web link on NCSA's website.
• Event Calendar: The NCSA keeps a calendar of events taking place during October that focus on cybersecurity awareness and education. Organizations are welcome to submit events through NCSA's online form to be included on the October calendar.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance

The National Cyber Security Alliance is a nonprofit organization. Through collaboration with the government, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, the mission of the NCSA is to empower a digital citizenry to use the Internet securely and safely protecting themselves and the technology they use and the digital assets we all share. NCSA works to create a culture of cyber security and safety through education and awareness activities. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for more information.

About National Cyber Security Awareness Month

National Cyber Security Awareness month now in its seventh year is a coordinated effort of the National Cyber Security Alliance, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MSISAC).

SOURCE National Cyber Security Alliance