October 2020 Cybersecurity Awareness Month
NAVADMIN 265/20 - Publish Date: 09/24/20
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This NAVADMIN describes the focus of October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and the goal of equipping you with tools to safeguard the Navy at work and defend yourself at home.
RMKS/1. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. While cybersecurity
is always a Navy priority, we increase our focus on it during October to remind
you of its importance, and to equip you with tools to safeguard the Navy at
work and defend yourself at home.
2. To win across the full range of military operations in this era of Great
Power Competition, we must connect Navy and Joint sensors and shooters in a
battle network that enables our forces to get from threat detection to decisive
action as quickly as possible. The systems, networks and data that enable this
capability are as critical as weapons without them we cannot compete, deter,
and win.
3. Our adversaries understand this. They have become more confident in
challenging us below the level of military conflict by stealing our data, and
developing ways to compromise Navy systems and networks, including those that
control our ships, aircraft, weapons, and infrastructure.
4. The connectedness we need increases our lethality but it also increases
shared risk. With a foothold inside our networks, adversaries can quickly move
to more vital targets. When they have this capability, a mistake by one
individual puts others at risk. Because the stakes are so high in this
networked environment, adhering to cybersecurity policies and best practices
requires an ALL HANDS approach to keep the Navy and our nation
safe. Cybersecurity best practices also provide protection against hackers
intent on exploiting smart phones, personal computers and other consumer
computing devices.
5. During October, we will publish content on the Navy's social media platform
and on the American Forces Network as part of the national campaign for raising
cybersecurity awareness. Use these materials to understand the threats we face
and how to protect against them. Each week will have a different theme:
- Week One: If You Connect It, Protect
- Week Two: Securing Devices at Home and Work
- Week Three: Secure Teleworking
- Week Four: The Future of Connected Devices
6. For easy access to this content, go to https://www.doncio.navy.mil and
select Cybersecurity Awareness Month announcement. Many of the excellent
cybersecurity resources from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency will be reposted at https://www.cisa.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.
7. We have invested heavily in capabilities to protect Navy networks, systems,
and data, and our cybersecurity defenders stop attacks daily, but you are part
of the cyber fight too. Every time you log onto a system or network at home
or at work you are on the front lines of the cyber battlespace. I appreciate
your commitment to keeping the Navy safe by following cybersecurity best
practices and policy.
8. Request widest dissemination. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until
cancelled or superseded.
9. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.//