SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MINISTRY UNVEILS PLANS FOR CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS MONTH
The Ministry of Science and Technology, through the Jamaica Cyber Incident Response Team (JA-CIRT), and its partners, yesterday, September 27, 2018 unveiled its plans in observance of Cyber Security Awareness Month at a launch held at the Spanish Court Hotel. The month will be observed from October 1-31, 2018 and will target businesses, consumers and students. The over-arching theme for this year is, “Cyber Security, our Shared Responsibility”. Head of the JA-CIRT, Dr. Moniphia Hewling, said the month will be used to increase awareness of cyber security issues. “Cyber Security Awareness Month 2018 will address specific challenges and identify opportunities for behavioural change. This year we will also be highlighting the need to build a strong, cyber secure workforce, to help ensure families, communities, businesses and our national infrastructure are better protected”, she said. There will be weekly themes for the month focusing on specific areas of cyber security:
Week 1: Oct. 1–5: Ensuring Online Safety at Home
Week 2: Oct. 8–12: Careers in Cybersecurity
Week 3: Oct. 15–19: Online Safety at Work
Week 4: Oct. 22–26: Safeguarding the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure
The Head of JA-CIRT indicated that the international themes are relevant to the Jamaican context based on observed local trends. “Local indicators show a resurgence in ransomware, continuation of phishing emails as well as the spoofing of the emails of senior officials,” Dr. Hewling said. This year’s observance is the third staging of its kind in Jamaica and will feature several activities including a business leaders’ breakfast forum, cyber safety road shows in Montego Bay and Kingston, school presentations, and a national cyber security jingle competition. Fortinet, Royale Computers, Ttech Limited, Universal Service Fund, e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, eGov Jamaica Limited and the Jamaica Constabulary Force have all partnered to stage this year’s observance.