The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have officially launched the 21st annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the theme, “Secure Our World.” As cyber threats evolve in tandem with technological advancements, this year’s campaign focuses on AI-driven risks and the urgent need to safeguard digital lives through collective action.
1. The Evolution of Cybersecurity
Over the past two decades, the cybersecurity landscape has seen both growth in opportunities and risks. Lisa Plaggemier, Executive Director of NCA, stresses that while technology has brought convenience, it has also introduced complex security challenges that require continuous vigilance and education.
2. Collective Action for a Safer Digital Future
This year’s theme emphasizes shared responsibility—encouraging individuals, businesses, security professionals, and government entities to collaborate. By uniting, the broader cybersecurity community can share knowledge and best practices to build a safer digital world.
3. Key Behaviors for Cybersecurity
The 2024 campaign highlights four essential cybersecurity behaviors:
- Using strong, unique passwords and a password manager
- Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) across accounts
- Regularly updating software
- Identifying and reporting phishing attempts
These practices form the foundation of basic cyber hygiene for individuals and organizations alike.
4. The Role of Industry Leaders
Support from companies like Google, CrowdStrike, Amazon, and others is crucial to spreading cybersecurity awareness. Leaders in the tech industry, such as Charley Snyder from Google, emphasize the importance of returning to basic security practices like Secure by Design, which simplifies online safety for consumers.
Additionally, Matt Gorham of PwC highlights that the evolving threat landscape requires businesses to align their cybersecurity strategies with overall business priorities to maintain digital trust.
5. The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity
This year’s campaign also addresses the increasing influence of AI-driven threats. Perry Carpenter from KnowBe4 emphasizes the need for behavior modification and greater awareness of AI-related security risks, while Daniel Bernard from CrowdStrike notes the importance of equipping organizations with tools to defend against both current and emerging cyber threats.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2024 underscores the growing importance of protecting digital lives as AI reshapes the threat landscape. The “Secure Our World” theme encourages individuals, companies, and security professionals to work together, fostering a culture of online safety through collaboration and education.