Cooperative Living October 2018 - 25

YourBusiness
Cybersecurity Depends on Everyone
T
echnology breaches, including the theft of credit card
data and other consumer information, have become
increasingly commonplace.
This new reality means that keeping systems secure is not
solely the responsibility of information-technology employees.
Rather, every individual has a role to play in keeping critical
personal and organization data safe from potential breaches.
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM).
Since its inception under leadership from the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance,
observance of NCSAM has helped equip Americans with the
resources they need to enhance their online safety and security.
Because the human element is often the biggest cybersecurity
risk, there are many things that electric cooperative employees
and members can do to protect personal data.
Keep your defenses up
* Make sure all computer software -- including your web
browser -- has been updated with the latest version. This
helps ensure that security patches deployed by
information-technology providers can succeed
in blocking security threats, including viruses
and malware.
* Create a strong password and keep it private.
Did you know that it could take up to two
centuries to crack a password consisting of 12
characters or more?
* Treat all Wi-Fi networks as a potential security
risk. Encrypt sensitive data when using a public
Wi-Fi network, and never check financial or other
sensitive accounts while on a public network.
Don't fall for a phish
* Be on the lookout for emails, phone calls and
other messages that try to get to secure data. If
something seems off, trust your instinct and
convey your concerns to a manager or member
of the security team.
* Don't click on links or attached files in emails or
texts from senders you don't know. Instead,
report them to your spam filter and delete them.
Even if you recognize the sender's name, check
their actual email address and hover over any
links before you click to make sure someone
isn't spoofing you!
Co-ops are collaborating
Electric cooperatives have been working together
with the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (NRECA) using the Rural Cooperative
Cybersecurity Capability Program to better protect
their members from security threats. From the
smallest co-op with limited technology staff to
larger co-ops with more resources, NRECA and
co-opliving.com
America's electric cooperatives are creating a co-op network that
fosters a culture of cybersecurity. Co-op preparations include:
* Monitoring organizational data to ensure identities and
financial information are not compromised;
* Implementing rigorous security standards and technology to
protect systems;
* Forging close partnerships to protect shared systems; and
* Engaging in active information sharing about threats
and vulnerabilities.
To learn more about National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit
staysafeonline.org and follow #cyberaware on social media. 
Source: The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA),
the Arlington, Virginia-based service arm of the nation's 900-plus
consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.
Visit staysafeonline.org.
October 2018 | Cooperative Living | 23
http://www.staysafeonline.org http://www.staysafeonline.org http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living October 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living October 2018
