Following Governor Philip D. Murphy’s statement on August 29 that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month in New Jersey, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) announced their participation in this State observance, as well as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

NJOHSP and the NJCCIC, a component organization within NJOHSP, are promoting cybersecurity best practices throughout October alongside a coalition of private businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and academic institutions.

“It is important to emphasize the role that everyone plays in online safety because cyberspace contains real, persistent, and evolving threats,” said Jared M. Maples, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “Whether we are at home or at work, we must proactively implement cybersecurity measures to reduce our cyber risk.”

NJOHSP’s cybersecurity efforts extend beyond just one month. The NJCCIC’s influence and impact on the cybersecurity landscape continue to increase, and it has built strong partnerships in both the public and private sectors to make New Jersey more resilient to cyber attacks. The NJCCIC has more than 9,500 members in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 49 countries.

“Many of the biggest cybersecurity incidents of the past year were wholly preventable if good cyber hygiene was practiced. Similar to washing your hands and brushing your teeth in order to keep germs and tooth decay away, cyber hygiene includes routine tasks that help keep you cyber secure,” said Michael Geraghty, Director of the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell. “They include using multifactor authentication, keeping software up to date with the latest security patches and updates, and being mindful of unsolicited emails and refraining from clicking on links or opening attachments when sent by untrusted sources. In both personal and business-related online activity, practicing good cyber hygiene may be the difference between becoming a victim or being cyber secure.”

Resources on cybersecurity can be found on cyber.nj.gov and njohsp.gov. Additionally, the NJCCIC publishes cybersecurity tips on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.