NEWS ROOM | Press Releases
For immediate release: September 26, 2007
Contact: Shawn Karrick
NASCIO Recognizes the Importance of National Cyber Security Awareness Month
(Lexington, KY) - For the fourth consecutive year, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) is pleased to support October 2007 as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. “NASCIO is proud that many states have officially designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month and conduct cyber security awareness-raising efforts throughout the month,” said Teri Takai, CIO, State of Michigan and NASCIO President.
Organized by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a consortium of government agencies and private industry sponsors, National Cyber Security Awareness Month is designed to increase the public’s awareness of cyber security and crime issues, so that citizens can take precautions to avoid those threats on the Internet. Public relations activities, educational programs, events and initiatives that target home users, small businesses, education audiences (K-12 and higher education), and child safety online will be featured throughout October. To find out more about participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Month and to learn about NCSA’s “Top 8 Cyber Security Practices” please visit www.staysafeonline.org.
“NASCIO recognizes the important role that adequate awareness and training efforts play in securing technology for governments, businesses and citizens,” said Thomas Jarrett, CIO, State of Delaware, and Co-Chair of NASCIO’s Information Security and Privacy Committee. That Committee recently released a Research Brief entitled, “IT Security Awareness and Training: Changing the Culture of State Government”. It is available at: www.nascio.org/publications/researchBriefs.cfm.
“Through raising awareness of cyber security, we can show citizens how to avoid Internet threats while still taking advantage of the great benefits that the Internet has to offer us all,” said Brenda Decker, CIO, State of Nebraska, and Co-Chair of NASCIO’s Information Security and Privacy Committee.
Founded in 1969, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) represents state chief information officers and information technology executives from the states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The primary state government members are senior officials who have executive level and statewide responsibility for information technology leadership. State officials who are involved in agency level information technology management may participate as associate members. Representatives from other public sector and non-profit organizations may also participate as associate members. Private sector firms may join as corporate members and participate in the Corporate Leadership Council.
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For more information from NASCIO, please contact NASCIO Senior Issues Coordinator, Mary Gay Whitmer, at (859) 514-9209 or mwhitmer@amrms.com or Communications Coordinator, Shawn Karrick at (859) 514-9156 or skarrick@amrms.com.
AMR Management Services provides NASCIO's executive staff. For more information about AMR visit http://www.AMRms.com/.
