RALEIGH, N.C. -- Governor Cooper has declared October as Cyber Security Awareness Month in North Carolina to bring awareness to the impact cybersecurity threats and breaches have on the security of citizens and the state.

“We all need to be mindful of the value the data we hold both at our workplaces and in our personal lives,” said Eric Boyette, State Chief Information Officer and Secretary of the Department of Information Technology. “Too many people do not realize the significance of cybersecurity and open the way for problems, including bad actors attempting to take advantage of your data. This month, we want to remind people of some easy ways they can make it more difficult on the data thieves.”

Infrastructures and industries are dependent on technology and the internet to support, transportation, healthcare, emergency response systems, energy, utilities, telecommunications, and financial services. This constant connectivity exposes people and institutions alike to cybersecurity threats.

Every week, 50 to 60 percent of North Carolina state government emails are related to SPAM, viruses, or phishing, while 64 percent of Americans have been victims of a data breach.

During October, the North Carolina Department of Information Technology will be holding events and providing tips, tricks, and best practices for protecting personal data from cyberattacks. On October 11, Secretary Eric Boyette will be speaking at UNC Charlotte’s Cyber Symposium. His remarks will focus on Governor Cooper’s “Meet the Threat” cybersecurity compact signed by Governor Cooper and 37 other state governors to help protect their residents from cybersecurity threats.

On October 19-20, DIT and its Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office (ESRMO) will be hosting a two-day cybersecurity symposium at the NC Rural Economic Development Center, Room 150/151, 4021 Carya Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27610. The symposium is open to all state and local government employees. Attendees will learn about cyberthreat assessments and participate in workshops on “Threat Hunting and Incident Response.” Please visit the Cybersecurity Symposium registration page for more information.

During this month, it is important to understand that everyone is part of the cyber ecosystem. Our data is under constant attack, and we cannot defend ourselves unless everyone plays their part and practices cyber hygiene. Take the steps to protect our systems from malware and computer viruses and pay attention to emails before clicking on links. Remember, Cybersecurity is OUR shared responsibility. STOP, THINK, CONNECT.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month was begun in 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the United Stated Department of Homeland Security. Today, the initiative is worldwide.

Please visit the DIT website for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter @NCDIT or search for the hashtag #cyberaware.