October 2021: Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Mayor Kim Janey has officially declared October 2021 Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the City of Boston. You can read the entire proclamation online. This month is dedicated to raising awareness of cybersecurity, and encouraging residents to ensure their own information is secure.

At a time when we are more connected than ever, being “cyber smart” is extremely important. This year has already seen more than a fair share of attacks and breaches, including the SolarWinds and Kaseya breaches, as well as high-profile attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and other critical infrastructure. Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated with more evolved bad actors cropping up each day. Luckily, there are several steps that we can take on a daily basis to minimize risks and stay one step ahead of cyber criminals.

In addition to practicing good hygiene to stop the spread of COVID-19, the City’s Cybersecurity Team encourages everyone to practice good cyber hygiene as well this month — and beyond — to stay safe on digital devices. One tip is to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) EVERYWHERE. 

MFA is sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication, 2FA or two-step verification. Regardless of what it is called, it is one of the best methods of securing your accounts. Many of your personal accounts offer the ability to use MFA, however, you must proactively enroll. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great time to review all of the different accounts you have, set new unique strong passwords (longer is stronger) and enroll in MFA for all of your accounts. You can find out if the website supports MFA and how to enroll by searching online.