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Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Strengthening Digital Defences

Oct 24, 2024

Every October, people from all over the world observe the celebration of Cybersecurity Month—that month, which was set aside to heighten public awareness concerning the growing importance of cybersecurity.

The Philippines rejoined this effort because of its rapid increase in digital transformation. Learn about cyber-attacks during Cybersecurity Month and take precautions in protecting one's digital assets.


What is Cybersecurity Month?

Cybersecurity Month was originated by the United States Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Alliance in 2004. The observance is a global one aiming at emphasizing the need for best practices in online safety. In essence, it seeks to inform individuals, businesses, and government about the growing threat from cybercriminals and how to mitigate it.

The Philippines uses Cybersecurity Month to make businesses and its citizens aware of common cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and malware regarding adopting proactive strategies against them; it reminds them of the importance of securing corporate networks and personal devices as well as their data in the rapidly digitizing world.


Many international companies across various industries also honor Cybersecurity Month by launching initiatives to promote online safety. These efforts are often designed to improve security practices within their organizations and to educate the broader public about digital risks.


IBM

IBM emphasizes the importance of embedding security into all business aspects, especially as new cybersecurity threats emerge. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, IBM aims to raise awareness and showcase its expertise through various initiatives. These include the release of the "Cloud Threat Landscape" report, which explores cloud security risks, and insights from the "Cost of a Data Breach" report. IBM will share these findings through expert discussions and digital content, focusing on helping clients address cloud threats, strengthen security, and adopt technologies like automation and generative AI (GenAI).


MICROSOFT

In October, global technology leader Microsoft releases a series of security best practices webinars, articles, and blogs for both organizations and the public. This is among the primary topics Microsoft addresses to empower organizations in building their security infrastructures: multi-factor authentication, zero-trust policies, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems.

This month, Microsoft also challenges businesses themselves to review their security internally and offers free resources such as security guides and checklists to better support organizations in identifying their weak points to improve their digital defenses.


CISCO SYSTEM

Cisco Systems, the company leading global networking, also joins Cybersecurity Month by promoting cybersecurity awareness among its employees and customers. Experts' discussions and training sessions have been delivered in a number of global virtual events that educate participants on how not to breach data and protect sensitive information.


Apart from these internal employee training, Cisco also reaches the public directly through its social media programs. The issues being raised are phishing attacks, ransomware defense, and ensuring the security of cloud infrastructure. Tools and services offered for free by Cisco during Cybersecurity Month are assessed and enhanced by organizations in their cybersecurity strategies.


Cybersecurity Month is a global initiative that plays a critical role in strengthening digital security in the Philippines and around the world. With cyberattacks becoming more frequent and sophisticated, organizations and individuals need to stay informed about the risks and take proactive measures to protect their digital assets.


References

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2024/10/01/cybersecurity-awareness-month-securing-our-world-together/

https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/s/blogs/a0D3i000002eea4EAA/october-national-cyber-security-awareness-month

https://www.darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/major-companies-honoring-cybersecurity-awareness-month


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