FORT LEE, Va. –
According to the Department of Homeland Security website, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which is held every October, "is a collaborative effort between government and industry to highlight the importance of cybersecurity and ensure all Americans have the resources needed to be safer and more secure online."
During this month, the Defense Contract Management Agency will emphasize personal accountability and the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity at work and home. This year’s theme is: Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT. This theme focuses on key areas, including workplace devices used daily and the importance of cybersecurity awareness in relation to these devices.
Each DCMA employee is the first of line defense to the agency’s cybersecurity. It is important that team members understand why the agency takes certain actions to safeguard DCMA’s network, including blocking certain websites.
Cyber criminals use various methods to gain control of government and corporate information and infrastructure. Certain innocent devices such as baby monitors, audio recording toys and smart watches have the potential to facilitate eavesdropping on conversations.
DCMA has safeguards in place to protect its network-connected devices. The steps below will help DCMA employees secure their information at home:
1. Update applications, web browsers and the operating systems on all electronic devices.
2. Check application permissions and use the “rule of least privilege” to deny applications and companies access to sensitive information.
3. Deny privilege and permission requests that do no not make sense.
4. Disconnect devices from the internet when not in use.
These tips may not be convenient, but they lessen the chances of cyber adversaries and criminals seeking to do harm to DCMA and the United States.
Go to DCMA’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month website, https://360.intranet.dcma.mil/Teams/P2-IT/ITK/ETA/SitePages/Cybersecurity%20Awareness%20Month.aspx (login required), for additional information. Do you your part and be cyber smart!
Editor's Note: Additional information can also be found on the Department of Homeland Security's website at https://niccs.us-cert.gov/national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2019.