ROME, NY — Griffiss Institute (GI) today announced that it has become a Champion of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2017. The organization will be joining a growing global effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals to promote online safety awareness.
Recognized every October, NCSAM was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all digital citizens have the resources needed to stay safer and more secure online while also protecting their personal information. As an official Champion, Griffiss Institute recognizes its commitment to cybersecurity, online safety and privacy.
“Cybercrime has many faces; identity theft and invasion of privacy, consumer fraud, online bullying, file sharing and piracy, hacking, spam, sabotage, the list goes on and on,” says Bill Wolf, president of Griffiss Institute, “The GI is committed all year long, and especially during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, to helping empower individuals, parents, kids, small and big business owners, to become more cyber aware, because these types of crimes are not going away, and the public needs to learn the best practices in which to defend themselves, on not only their computers, but the vast amount of wireless, and connected, devices that are vulnerable today.”
Coordinated and led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NCSAM has grown exponentially since its inception, reaching consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation and internationally. NCSAM 2016 was an unprecedented success, generating more than 2,260 unique news stories – an increase of 30 percent from NCSAM 2015’s media coverage. Kicking off NCSAM’s 14th year, this October presents a new opportunity to expand cybersecurity and privacy education and awareness globally.
“The Champion program is a vital part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month’s ongoing success. 870 organizations joined last year, a 24-percent increase from the year before,” said Michael Kaiser, NCSA’s executive director. “We are thankful to our 2017 Champion organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cybersecurity and online safety awareness.”
As part of Griffiss Institute’s NCSAM efforts, throughout the month of October, the organization will post online safety tips and reminders on all their social media profiles, as well as the Griffiss Institute website, take part in online safety Twitter Chats, and display online safety materials throughout the GI office building.
For more information about NCSAM, the Champion program and how to participate in a wide variety of activities, visit staysafeonline.org/ncsam. You can also follow and use the official NCSAM hashtag #CyberAware on Twitter throughout the month.
