See Yourself in Cyber: Your Role is Greater Than You Think

Updated: Oct 12, 2022

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022. Make life easy for you. Make it hard for the bad guys.

It’s the theme of this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month: See yourself in cyber. Each October, we take time to focus on practical steps that people and organizations can take to stay cyber safe.

We are excited that this year’s theme is all about the human factor in security. This is an important and often-overlooked value in cyber safety – organizations can implement all the correct policies and programs, but people are ultimately the best cyber defense. Your cybersecurity role is greater than you think.

This month is a joint effort of NCA and CISA, and they have set out 4 key action steps we’ll be discussing all month. Here are some basic steps to stay safe online and see yourself in cyber.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
Use Strong Passwords
Recognize and Report Phishing
Update Your Software

Maybe you think security doesn’t matter for you because you aren’t a techy person? These are easy steps for every business and every individual. You don’t need to be a technical person to join the movement for a safer world and see yourself and your role in cybersecurity.

Here are some specific ways to see yourself in cybersecurity, and why security is everyone’s job.

Careers in Cybersecurity: A Big Need

Two people sit at a desk smiling and look at a computer screen. One of them holds a clipboard and is taking notes.

A career in information security or cybersecurity is a great way to see yourself in cyber. To keep our world secure, cyber professionals are needed more and more. There are about 700,000 cybersecurity jobs open in the United States, and over 3 million are needed worldwide. If you have an aptitude for learning and problem solving, this could be a career for you. Cybersecurity roles vary widely, and not all of them require technical training or certifications.

To learn more about cybersecurity career paths and training, visit the NIST Career Center or the CISA Workforce Training Guide. We can also help with your certification preparation courses in our Institute courses online.

Business Leaders Show the Way in Cyber

Two women are talking across a table from each other with their laptops open in front of them.

If you manage people who work with any online device, you are an integral part of the security ecosystem and should also see yourself in cyber. You set the tone for the company’s security culture, you demonstrate a commitment to security with your daily actions, and you train the front line workers who are crucial to your security strategy.

Leaders must show the way with policies, training, and personal action. It’s also vital to maintain quality relationships with your employees, connect them to your company mission, and reiterate their importance in the company’s cyber safety.

To learn more, read our blog Develop Your Team and Company Security Culture.

Every Employee is a Security Team Member

Four people are huddled around a laptop computer on a table and looking at the screen.

Cybersecurity is everyone’s job. We feel like a broken record, but it’s important enough to repeat again. Every person is responsible for cybersecurity. And because our world is