Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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About

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared the month of October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a dedicated month for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

Over the years it has grown into a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance cybersecurity awareness, encourage actions by the public to reduce online risk and generate discussion on cyber threats on a national and global scale. October 2023 marked the 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Secure Our World

Starting in 2023 with the launch of CISA’s new cybersecurity awareness program of the same name, Secure Our World will be the enduring theme for all future Cybersecurity Awareness Months. This theme recognizes the importance of taking daily action to reduce risks when online and connected to devices. Organizations can use the Secure Our World theme when planning for the 2024 and future Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaigns.

Below are the simple actions we should all take not only during October, but every day throughout the year to stay safe online.

Four Easy Ways to Stay Safe Online

Let’s work together to build a safer digital world. We can increase our online safety through four simple actions, and whether at home, work or school, these tips make us more secure when connected. Take time to discuss them with family, friends, employees and your community so we can all become safer online!

Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.

Use Strong Passwords

Strong passwords are long, random, unique and include all four character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols). Password managers are a powerful tool to help you create strong passwords for each of your accounts.

Turn On MFA

You need more than a password to protect your online accounts and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media and financial accounts.

Update Software

Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are not available.

Learn more at Secure Our World.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 Resources and Toolkit

Click below for updated resources or check out additional resources at cisa.gov/SecureOurWorld. Refreshed materials for 2024 are in development and will be made available by Summer 2024.

Download Toolkit (English)

Download Toolkit (Spanish)

CISA Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 Webinar Series 

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023, CISA hosted a series of free, virtual webinars about each of the four key online safety behaviors. To view the webinar recordings on CISA’s YouTube channel, click here.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month | CISA (14)

Become a Cybersecurity Awareness Month Partner!

Partnering with CISA for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great way for us to work together and share the importance of reducing risks when we are online or using devices connected to the internet. As a partner, your organization will receive free resources to help it create its own campaign and promote participation in Cybersecurity Awareness Month by employees, customers, the public, friends and family.  Become one of our partners and help promote a safer, more secure and more trusted internet.  

For more information, and to become a Cybersecurity Awareness Month partner, email us atAwarenessCampaigns@cisa.dhs.gov.