WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina plays a vital role in identifying, protecting residents from, and responding to cyber threats that may have a significant impact on our individual and collective security and privacy; and
WHEREAS, critical infrastructure sectors are increasingly reliant on information systems and technology to support financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, utilities, health care, and emergency response systems; and
WHEREAS, monitoring your accounts, being conscientious of what you share online, keeping computer software up to date, creating unique passwords and changing them regularly, installing anti-virus programs and firewalls, and using mobile devices safely are all ways you can protect yourself from phishing, viruses, malware, and loss of sensitive data; and
WHEREAS, Stop.Think.Connect.™ is a national cybersecurity public awareness campaign implemented by a coalition of private companies, nonprofit and government organizations, and academic institutions working together to increase the understanding of cyber threats and empower the American public to be safer and more secure online; and
WHEREAS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework is a free resource to help organizations improve their cybersecurity practices through a practical approach to addressing the ever-evolving cybersecurity threats and challenges; and
WHEREAS, cybersecurity education and awareness are crucial for everyone, including large corporations, small businesses, financial institutions, schools, government agencies, and anyone who connects to the internet; and
WHEREAS, maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which each of us has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of North Carolina’s information, infrastructure, and economy; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, and the National Cyber Security Alliance, along with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office, and Stop.Think.Connect.™ campaign, recognize October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and encourage all residents to visit their websites to put cybersecurity knowledge into practice in homes, schools, workplaces, and businesses;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October, 2020, as “NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.