PRINCIPLE 5: Efforts to improve cybersecurity must focus on awareness. Why is this important?


Cyberspace’s stakeholders - consumers, businesses, governments, and infrastructure owners and operators - need to know how to reduce risks to their property, reputations, and operations. However, many stakeholders are not aware of and also do not adequately utilize the range of tools available to them to do so, such as information sharing, risk management models, technology, training, and globally accepted security standards, guidelines, and best practices. Raising awareness so that cyberspace’s stakeholders can use these tools is critical to improving cybersecurity.


What are we doing now?


There are a variety of effective information technology (IT) industry and government efforts to raise cybersecurity awareness. Some key examples follow.


• U.S. IT companies founded the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a non-profit organization focused on conducting cybersecurity education and awareness programs. NCSA has become the premier cross-sector umbrella organization for public-private collaboration to increase cybersecurity awareness at home, school, and work. NCSA is also a lead partner, with the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), in the “StopThinkConnect” national awareness campaign with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).


• NCSA’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month, first launched in 2003, is a multi-faceted effort held each October to disseminate security messages and information through grassroots, traditional, and social media channels.


• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s OnGuard Online program provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help citizens to guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information.


• EDUCAUSE, a nonprofit association formed to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of IT, provides extensive information and resources on cybersecurity for the higher education community.


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