Sol Cates | Principal Technologist, Data Protection
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and while IT departments around the globe don’t need a reminder to keep data safe and secure, this is an excellent opportunity to amplify critical cybersecurity efforts across the enterprise. If employees have been slow to download that latest security update, now there’s a timely reason to get a reminder right to the top of their in-box.
Cybersecurity has come a long way. In fact, we’ve seen quite an evolution from the “Creeper” worm in 1971 to a host of regulations that have emerged worldwide over the past couple of years to protect personal data.
For more information on the history of cybersecurity, see our infographic below, “Catch Me If You Can: Cyber-threats and Cyber-security as a constant feature throughout 50 years of technological change”.
Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Important
Throughout this month, there will be meaningful opportunities to focus on personal accountability and the importance of being proactive around cybersecurity in the workplace and at home (which is increasingly an extension of the workplace).
No organization is immune to data security threats. According to our 2019 Thales Data Threat Report-Global Edition, Globally, 60% of organizations say they’ve been breached at some point in their history, with 30% experiencing a breach within the past year alone.
In a year where breaches regularly appear in headlines, it’s rather surprising that the U.S. had the highest number of breaches in the last three years, according to the study. This statistic underscores the importance of the U.S.’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. This year’s theme “Own It, Secure it, Protect It” covers the most important aspects of citizen privacy, consumer devices, and e-commerce security.
In keeping with the European Cybersecurity Month theme, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, data security isn’t just a department or single job function. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to provide information and activities to actually change the mindset that cybersecurity is only the IT person’s responsibility. When responsibility is shared among all stakeholders (anyone who touches data), better cybersecurity practices can be adopted by everyone, and everyone benefits.
31 Days of Security Improvements
As the next four weeks of October unfold, Thales will focus on topics and tips we share with customers on every continent in the world to help them improve efficiency, safety, convenience, security and economic performance.
We’ll cover everything from cloud security and compliance to cyber hygiene best practices and managing IoT, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, IT security professionals – this is your month to be in the spotlight. Enjoy!