ARLINGTON, Va. – Defense Secretary Mark Esper, acting Army Chief Information Officer (CIO) Greg Garcia and G-6 Lt. Gen. John Morrison are asking every member of the Army family to strengthen their cyber smarts during October.
“Each of us is responsible for maintaining cyber awareness and proficiency,” Esper said. “We must protect our people, readiness and mission.”
Department of Defense’s CIO promotes National Cybersecurity Month observances across the armed services and combatant commands, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) leads the federal government’s participation.
“It’s critically important that every Soldier, every civilian and all of our family members understand cyber risks on the internet and how to protect yourselves and our networks,” Garcia said as he kicked off the Army’s annual observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month for 2020.
Since assuming his current position as the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6 in August, Morrison is working hard to “operationalize” cyber operations and cybersecurity.
“Thinking adversaries are coming at us every single day,” he said. “The days of strategic networks and tactical networks are over. Everyone must be thinking cybersecurity if we are going to have a seamless network that enables mission command.”
The National Cyber Security Alliance and DHS have worked collaboratively to hold Cybersecurity Awareness Months each October for the last 17 years. The purpose is to encourage everyone to be aware of and reduce risks from online threats.
The DOD CIO and Army theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” Weekly themes are:
· Week of October 5 (Week 1): If You Connect It, Protect It
· Week of October 12 (Week 2): Securing Devices at Home and Work
· Week of October 19 (Week 3): Securing Internet-Connected Devices in Healthcare
· Week of October 26 (Week 4): The Future of Connected Devices
“As you execute your mission, regardless of rank or position, be deliberate and careful with all sensitive information,” Esper said. “Cybersecurity must be a top priority for all of us. It is about our nation’s security, our mission success and protecting one another.”
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