October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Capitol Technology University will be hosting a series of events and activities during October in conjunction with National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), an initiative designed to raise awareness of the ongoing need to protect computer networks and systems from breaches and intrusions.

The calendar for the month includes a contest for student-designed posters, a visit to campus by the university’s National Security Agency representative, and a Cyber Saturday event featuring speakers as well as activities for parents and students.

NCSAM this year coincides with a milestone at Capitol: the school’s flagship cybersecurity program is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. The occasion will be commemorated during a special event on October 30.

“NCSAM is an annual even that was started by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),” explains Dr. William Butler, chair of the cybersecurity program at Capitol and head of the Critical Infrastructures and Cyber Protection Center. "It’s a time of the year where we draw the nation’s attention to the importance of cybersecurity.”

“During the month, the DHS as well as other agencies and organizations involved in cybersecurity provide advice to the average computer user on how people can better protect themselves against different varieties of cybercrime, including ransomware, infected e-mails, malware, social engineering and identity theft,” Butler said.

This year, NCSAM happens to coincide with a special milestone at Capitol. In October, the university is celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of the launch of its cybersecurity program, with a commemorative event scheduled for October 30.

“Fifteen years ago, Capitol decided to start the nation’s first master’s degree in network security,” Butler said. “Not only was it the nation’s first, but it was offered entirely online – which was an innovation as well. It represented a technological advancement in education as well as a new academic field.”

Cybersecurity programs have since proliferated across the nation – but Capitol continues to draw talented cyberwarriors-in-training each year to study with expert professionals in the university’s highly practice-oriented program. Butler says he’s counting on Capitol’s “very creative students” to devise ways of promoting cybersecurity awareness through the poster contest planned to run  through the month. Details will be forthcoming on the university portal.

Also in conjunction with NCSAM, mark your calendars for an October 6 visit by the NSA’s education representative, while on October 22 the Cyber Lab will host the next installment in the university’s ongoing Cyber Saturday program. For details on any of the planned activities, contact the CICPC or e-mail whbutler {at} captechu.edu .