FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2024 

Contact: Dan Hoblick, Bureau of Information & Telecommunications

Governor Noem Proclaims October Cybersecurity Awareness Month

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has proclaimed October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in South Dakota.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about digital security and empower everyone to protect their data from digital forms of crime.

“In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is the cornerstone of a secure world, said South Dakota Bureau of Information & Telecommunications (BIT) Commissioner Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala.”. “It’s a shared responsibility, and by taking simple, proactive steps, we can all protect ourselves, our families, and our businesses, building a collective defense against online threats and ensuring a safer digital environment for all.”

The year’s campaign theme is Secure Our World, here to remind us that there are simple ways to protect yourself, your family, and your business from online threats.

To avoid such threats, the citizens of South Dakota are reminded to do the following:

• Use strong passwords and a password manager.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication.
• Recognize and report phishing.
• Update software.

For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org/resources/online-safety-privacy-basics/.

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace.

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