MACON – Mercer University has been recognized as a National Cyber Security Awareness Month Champion for 2017, joining a global effort among businesses, government agencies, college and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals to promote online safety awareness.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month, observed each October, 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.
“Mercer University Information Technology is pleased to be an NCSAM Champion and join other organizations in a global effort to increase awareness of cybersecurity best practices,” said Denise Rogers, executive director of IT Client Support Services. “We strive to keep our students, faculty and staff informed through our various communication channels, including on our website at it.mercer.edu and on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.”
Coordinated and led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Cyber Security Awareness Month has grown exponentially since its inception, reaching consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation and internationally.
“The Champion program is a vital part of National Security Awareness Month's ongoing success. A total of 870 organizations joined last year, a 24-percent increase from the year before,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of NCSA. “We are thankful to our 2017 Champion organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cybersecurity and online safety awareness.”
For more information about National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the Champion program and how to participate, visit staysafeonline.org/ncsam. Participants are encouraged to use the official hashtag #CyberAware on Twitter throughout the month.
About National Cyber Security Awareness Month
Now in its 14th year, NCSAM is designed to engage and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity in order to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since the Presidential proclamation establishing NCSAM in 2004, NCSAM has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/ncsam or dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.
About the National Cyber Security Alliance
The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is the nation's leading nonprofit, public-private partnership promoting cybersecurity and privacy education and awareness. NCSA works with a broad array of stakeholders in government, industry and civil society. NCSA's primary partners are the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and NCSA's Board of Directors, which includes representatives from ADP; Aetna; AT&T Services Inc.; Bank of America; Barclays; Blackberry Corporation; CDK Global, LLC; Cisco; Comcast; ESET North America; Google; Facebook; LifeLock, Inc.; Logical Operations; NXP Semiconductors; RSA, the Security Division of EMC; Symantec Corporation; Intel Corporation; MasterCard; Microsoft Corporation; PayPal; Raytheon; PKWARE; Salesforce; SANS Institute; TeleSign; and Visa. For more information on NCSA, visit staysafeonline.org/about-us/overview.
