ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — As we recognize National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command is reinforcing our commitment to defending our network infrastructure and securing our digital assets. In a time when cyber threats are relentless, cybersecurity is not just an IT responsibility—it’s a mission-critical priority for every Soldier, civilian, and contractor.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this year's theme is ‘Secure Our World!’ This initiative reminds everyone that there are simple, effective ways to stay safe online, protect personal data, and ultimately help secure our world.
These are the top four ways to stay safe online:
Strong, unique passwords and a password manager
The simplest way to safeguard from personal data breaches is to update your logins every six months with a new password that is at least 16 characters, composed of a combination of mixed-case, numbers, and symbols, and has no previous history of re-use in any of your accounts.
More than 81% of breaches occur due to weak or reused passwords. Regularly creating and updating to strong, unique passwords is essential to securing your accounts and information (CISA/NIST).
More than 49% of breaches were tied to the use of stolen credentials, often from reused or weak passwords, emphasizing the need for strong password policies (Verizon DBIR).
Multi-Factor Authentication
Enable MFA to add an extra layer of protection across all platforms. Using MFA on all accounts makes you 99% less likely to be hacked (CISA).
While MFA adoption has increased, 74% of breaches still involve a human element, often due to weak or stolen passwords. Many attacks could have been prevented if MFA was enforced more broadly (Verizon DBIR).
Recognize and report phishing
Stay alert to phishing attempts, whether by email or text. These messages are designed to steal personal information or install malware on your device.
Phishing serves as the entry point for more than 90% of cyberattacks, leading to other exploitations, and accounts for 12% of all breaches.
Phishing remains a major vulnerability, especially for our military. Awareness and skepticism are your best defenses (Verizon DBIR).
Update software routinely
From mission-critical systems to personal devices, keep software updated to harden systems and sustain operational readiness.
For example, in December 2021, the Log4j vulnerability, also known as Log4Shell, was discovered to have exploited a flaw in the widely used Java-based logging utility, Apache Log4j.
This vulnerability allowed attackers to remotely execute code on affected systems and was quickly targeted by threat actors, leading to a global scramble for patches and updates.
More than 32% of the vulnerability scanning happened within the first 30 days of its discovery, which shows how quickly threats can escalate (Verizon DBIR).
Extra safeguards
Additionally, ensure that you maintain cyber readiness by doing the following:
· Protect sensitive data: Data security is mission security. Ensure sensitive and classified information is handled in accordance with Army regulations to prevent breaches and unauthorized access.
· Secure your Common Access Card: Your CAC is your gateway to sensitive systems and networks. Always keep your CAC secure—never leave it unattended, share it, or allow unauthorized access. Treat your CAC with the same care as any other classified material. Your vigilance protects our Army’s mission integrity.
· Complete your annual cybersecurity awareness training: Staying informed is staying secure. All personnel are reminded to complete their mandatory annual cybersecurity awareness training by accessing https://cs.signal.army.mil/login.asp.
By being aware of cyber threats and following these tips, you not only protect yourself but also contribute to the overall strength of our nation’s cybersecurity. The U.S. Army's cybersecurity posture remains robust, but challenges persist as the landscape evolves and we must be proactive in mitigating emerging threats. Initiatives like NCSAM reinforce CECOM’s commitment to protecting our IT infrastructure. Through training, improved awareness, and the adoption of security methods, best practices, and technologies, we will ‘Secure Our World.’
For more information on the NCSAM initiative visit https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month and https://staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.
For fun videos for your family, watch the CISA Secure Our World public service announcements and animated videos and have a discussion about online safety.
For cybersecurity incidents, questions and concerns at APG please send an email to the CECOM G6 cybersecurity mailbox: usarmy.apg.cecom.mbx.cio-g6-cybersecurity@army.mil. For all others, please report to your security manager and/or cyber security service provider.
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