October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Do Your Part to Keep Data Safe and Secure

It’s been 15 years since the first National Security Awareness Month was launched by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). But in the age of computing, the concept of cyber attacks dates way back to around 1970, when Bob Thomas created the first computer virus. Eighteen years later, in 1988, the first distributed denial of service attack struck.

Those landmark events almost seem like a joke today, as evidenced by the stark statistics from SonicWall’s 2021 Global Cyberattack Trends report, which says there were 2.5 billion malware attacks in the first half of 2021. Sound bad? There were 2.5 trillion intrusion attempts over the same period. That means everyone has to do a better job of protecting personal and business data. And that’s why we’re putting a spotlight on Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

The Lines Have Blurred

The overarching theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” With our online and offline lives now essentially merged into the singular idea of “life,” all individuals and organizations have to take ownership for protecting their part of cyberspace.

Each week in October, the National Cybersecurity Alliance will focus on various aspects of cybersecurity, starting with raising awareness. Subsequent weeks will focus on best security practices, fighting phishing attacks, careers in cybersecurity, and making cybersecurity a priority.

Get Involved

You can make a difference by participating in this year's event. The National Cybersecurity Alliance has posted a long list of ways to help here, including amplifying the message on social media, at work, school, home, and in your community.

Even better, join the 2021 Champion program to officially show your support for Cybersecurity Awareness Month and get free resources. Champions commit to promoting a safer, more secure, and more trusted internet. Being a Champion is easy and doesn’t require any financial support.

Professional Help is a Click Away

For businesses and other organizations, cybersecurity can be complex. But the best way to overcome the impacts of a cybersecurity attack—of any kind—is by having the proper data protection in place. Schedule a demo with a StorageCraft engineer to learn how a true business continuity platform can ensure you can recover your data, no matter what.