That said, individuals and groups have established specific date(s) to provide opportunities to focus on security behaviors. The purpose of this document is to provide information to help differentiate between the multiple Security Awareness Day(s), their purpose, and links to more information on each. As stated previously – every day is security awareness day – it is not an either/or situation.

Specific days (highlighted below) are not enough to help community’s awareness of cyber, personal and physical security issues and promote safe practices. Therefore, in addition to any of the time frames below, many groups are scheduling other times to participate and celebrate safe habits.

A great example can be viewed at http://edtechoutreach.umd.edu/cyberawareness.html by Educational Technology Outreach.

Security Awareness Day – Physical, Information and Personal Security
September 10th
http://www.ussecurityawareness.org/highres/concept.html

The concept of NSAD differs in that it tries to establish a culture of security without focusing solely on computers. It also seeks the validation of a government proclamation so that less effort can go into attracting attention to the event each year leaving more energy devoted to supporting it. Once approved, I would also want to draw attention to the other awareness events to help raise awareness throughout the year.

Please support the establishment of U.S. National Security Awareness Day as an annual observance (similar to Veterans Day). The concept is simple, dedicate a day to mentoring U.S. citizens in the threats facing our country and what they can do to help address them.

There must be top down support of a national security awareness program. Cyber security is a large part of that. However businesses need to be reminded of their responsibilities to security legislation such as Sarbanes Oxley and GLBA. Businesses also need to annually renew their commitments to information security, business continuity and disaster recovery programs.

The U.S. needs to undergo a cultural change to effectively protect against the threats facing it. We need to continue to improve our security posture. The government cannot do this on its own. It needs the support of its citizens. The concept of U.S. National Security Awareness Day is a proactive approach.

Want to make a difference? Let's do it together.

First held in 2002, the semi-annual National Cyber Security Days are coordinated with daylight savings in April and October in the U.S. and are intended to raise the public's awareness of cyber-security issues and promote safe online practices. Sunday, October 31, 2004, is the next Cyber Security Day. Set some time aside this week to update your anti-virus software and scan your computer for viruses. Also, check out the Top Ten Security Tips for more information on keeping your computer safe from hackers.

Colleges and Universities Recognize Cyber Security Day with Campus Events

Setting your clocks forward or back for Daylight Saving Time and replacing the batteries in smoke detectors are rituals repeated every spring and fall. Similarly, the National Cyber Security Alliance established April 4, 2004, as Cyber Security Day to raise awareness about Internet safety and computer security issues. Colleges and universities across the country are planning security education and awareness events between March 29 and April 2 to help promote Cyber Security Day.

International Computer Security Day is a globally recognized annual event set up to inform computer users of the significance of computer security. Computer Security Day began in 1988 when the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) sought to bring computer-related security issues to the nation’s forefront. Since that time, Computer Security Day has evolved into a worldwide event. This annual event is held around the world on November 30th although some organizations choose to have functions on the next business day if it falls on a weekend.