Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) which raises awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation. According to GCN.com, cyberattacks on state and local governments have risen almost 50% since 2017. How can you keep your county safe?

Think about your passwords

We all know it’s best to use a complicated password. Preferably one with a combination of numbers, symbols, and upper and lowercase letters. But how safe is the password you’ve chosen? Check out security.org’s How Secure is My Password? to test the strength of a password. Don’t forget to use different passwords on your accounts and change your passwords on a regular basis. If you can’t keep all of your passwords straight, check out a password manager.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication provides an added layer of security should your password be stolen or hacked. Many websites have this option and it is highly recommended to use MFA whenever possible. Avast provides a great overview on MFA in a recent blog post: How to use multi-factor authentication for safer apps.

Education

Preventing cyberattacks can be as simple as learning more about how you can protect your county. When you know the different types of cyberattacks, you are less likely to click on a link that you shouldn’t. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has a variety of resources to help your county.

For more information on National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, please visit: https://www.cisa.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.