October 2021: Cybersecurity Month

WHEREAS, the state of Michigan recognizes that it plays a vital role in identifying, protecting, and responding to cyber threats that may have significant impacts on our individual and collective security and privacy; and,

WHEREAS, critical infrastructure sectors are increasingly reliant on information systems and technology to support financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, utilities, health care, and emergency response systems; and,

WHEREAS, cybersecurity education and awareness are crucial for everyone, including large corporations, small businesses, financial institutions, schools, government agencies, home users, and anyone who connects to the internet; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan residents are encouraged to take the measures necessary to protect themselves and their families from cyber threats, including phishing, malware, computer viruses, and data breaches, by being vigilant and reviewing online account information, being conscientious of the information shared online, keeping computer software up-to-date, creating unique passwords and changing them regularly, and installing antivirus programs and firewalls; and,

WHEREAS, Michigan residents are facing new cyber challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased the virtual activity of businesses and the education community, leading to an increased need for public wireless access and an uptick in malicious cyber activity; and,

WHEREAS, the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. ™ Campaign has been designated as the National Public Awareness Campaign, implemented through a coalition of private companies, nonprofit and government organizations, as well as academic institutions, who all work together to increase the understanding of cyber threats and empower the American public to be safer and more secure online; and,

WHEREAS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework is a free resource to help organizations (both large and small, public and private) improve their cybersecurity practices through a practical approach to addressing ever-evolving cybersecurity threats and challenges; and,

WHEREAS, maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which each of us has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of the state of Michigan's information, infrastructure, and economy; and,

WHEREAS, the Michigan Cyber Command Center (MC3) was established in 2013 to enhance and protect the state of Michigan's cybersecurity ecosystem; and,

WHEREAS, the Federal Government of the United States of America, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (www.cisa.gov), the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (http://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac), the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (www.nascio.org), and the National Cyber Security Alliance (www.staysafeonline.org) all recognize October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month and encourage all citizens to visit these websites, along with the state of Michigan website (www.michigan.gov/cybersecurity) and the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. ™ Campaign website (www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect or www.stopthinkconnect.org), to learn about cybersecurity and to put that knowledge into practice in their homes, schools, workplaces, and businesses;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim October 2021 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Michigan.