US White House publishes proclamation on cybersecurity awareness month, focus on securing cyberspace

U.S. President Joe Biden published Friday a proclamation ahead of the cybersecurity awareness month highlighting his administration’s renewed commitment to securing cyberspace and seizing the unlimited potential of the digital future. The president highlighted various measures adopted to make ‘cybersecurity a national security priority because cyber threats affect every sector of society, from the critical infrastructure that underpins our daily lives to the schools where we educate our children and the products we use in our homes.’

“In May 2021, I issued an Executive Order to modernize the Federal Government’s cyber defenses — creating mechanisms for agencies to quickly identify and respond to cyberattacks.  I instituted minimum cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure sectors, including mandates for the protection of pipelines, rail, and aviation,” President Biden wrote in his proclamation. “We launched the ‘U.S. Cyber Trust Mark’ program with voluntarily participation from leading product manufacturers and retailers to help Americans choose safer smart devices to bring into their homes — while also establishing security standards for software purchased by the Government, helping to raise the market standard for digital technologies writ large.”

Since 2003, the U.S. has customarily designated the month of October as ‘National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)’ with the purpose of prompting industrial and manufacturing stakeholders, including supply chain vendors, to take a moment to assess their cybersecurity landscape. The objective here is to encourage organizations to evaluate their awareness of cybersecurity and implement essential actions aimed at enhancing and modernizing their cybersecurity defenses. 

Biden also highlighted in his proclamation the July release of a new National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which will empower more Americans to pursue careers in the cyber field and strengthen our resilience for generations to come.  “And, as we implement historic legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, we are committed to incorporating cybersecurity measures into everything we build and produce — from bridges and roads to computer chips and the electrical grid,” he added.

He also identified in his proclamation that cyber threats cross borders, “which is why we are also taking the same historic action on the global stage. In 2021, my Administration established the International Counter-Ransomware Initiative, which will convene for the third time this fall in Washington, D.C., bringing together more than 40 partners from around the globe to address the scourge of ransomware.”  

“We have created new cyber dialogues with allies and partners to enhance our collective cyber defense and deterrence — including launching a new virtual rapid response mechanism at NATO to ensure Allies can effectively and efficiently offer each other support in response to cyber incidents,” according to President Biden.  “And, early this year, we released a new National Cybersecurity Strategy — which will allow us to work in lockstep with our partners to ensure cyberspace is grounded in democratic values — not those of our autocratic competitors.”

Biden identifies that “the world — including our digital world — stands at an inflection point, where the decisions we make today will determine the direction of our world for decades to come. This is particularly true as we develop and enforce norms for conduct in cyberspace.” 

“We must ensure the Internet remains open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure — anchored in universal values that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the President proclaimed. “And, we must ensure that digital connectivity is a tool that uplifts and empowers, not one used for repression and coercion.  Today, and every day, the United States commits to advancing this vision from a position of strength — leading in lockstep with our allies and partners everywhere who share our aspiration for a brighter digital future.”

Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate passed a last-minute spending bill Saturday night averting a government shutdown that would have triggered a calamitous domino effect on the American public and economy. The Senate voted to pass the continuing resolution 3 hours before a 12:01 a.m. shutdown of the federal government would have taken effect. The measure was signed into law by President Joe Biden late Saturday night. 

The bill allows the government to stay open for 45 days, giving the House and Senate more time to finish their funding legislation.

Across the Atlantic, the European Cybersecurity Month campaign will focus on social engineering, a top cyber threat. Coordinated by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and supported by the European Commission and the EU Member States, several events are taking place across Europe throughout the month of October.

“The European Cybersecurity Month aims to raise our cybersecurity awareness and get us up to speed with cyber threats,” Margaritis Schinas, vice-president for ‘Promoting our European Way of Life,’ said in a media statement last week. “It reminds us that we can easily step up our own cybersecurity by getting into some good digital habits. By being alert against scammers we can stay safe.”

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market added: “Scammers are getting more creative in their ways of attacking individuals and organisations. It is therefore essential to stay alert with new technology and to take our online safety very seriously. Cyber threats are evolving at a rapid pace and citizens’ behaviour can play a fundamental role in how we stay cyber secure – it is our shared responsibility.”

“One of the weakest links in cybersecurity is humans,” according to Juhan Lepassaar, ENISA executive director. “Explaining how social engineering works in practice, creates awareness of potential traps.”

Last year, Biden’s proclamation highlighted the importance of safeguarding the nation’s critical infrastructure from malicious cyber activity and protecting citizens and businesses from ransomware and other attacks. Additionally, the move looks toward raising awareness about the simple steps Americans can take to secure their sensitive data and stay safe online.

Anna Ribeiro

Industrial Cyber News Editor. Anna Ribeiro is a freelance journalist with over 14 years of experience in the areas of security, data storage, virtualization and IoT.