R 301635Z SEP 20
MARADMIN 581/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DCI IC4 WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/2020 NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH (NCSAM), 1-31 OCTOBER//
POC/R. STATEN/CIV/UNIT: HQMC DCI IC4 ICC/CYBERSECURITY/TEL: 571-256-8875/EMAIL: RODDY.STATEN@USMC.MIL// 
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Calendar year 2020 marks the Nation’s 17th year
of observing October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
(NCSAM). As the Commandant focuses the Marine Corps on Force Design and great power competition, Marines, Sailors and Civilian employees must be mindful that Marine Corps networks and information systems constantly operate in a contested and congested domain.  Information is a warfighting function and every action on the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN), whether administrative or directly combat-related, is essential to the Marine Corps’ lethality.  This focus on the MCEN as a warfighting platform demands all users to approach cybersecurity as a force protection task, since every user is critical to preventing adversary access to the Marine Corps’ critical capabilities.  Today’s MCEN is constantly in advanced phases of competition against global adversaries, and this year’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month reminds each of us, at all levels, to remain ever vigilant and take actions to keep the network secure and maximize combat capability. #BeCyberSmart.
2.  This year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is “Do your part. Be Cyber Smart.” To do your part, Marines and Civilian Marines must learn and apply approved cybersecurity practices.  Whether you are using information technology (IT) to accomplish goals and objectives at work or at teleworking at home, learning and applying approved cybersecurity practices prepares you to protect your identity and sensitive information, objectives critical for mission success in the cyber domain.
2.A. The Marine Corps, DON, NSA, DoD, the federal government, trusted academia and industry partners continue to provide updated cybersecurity awareness information.  This information includes policy guidance, training materials, cybersecurity threat information, online safety tips and access to tools.
2.A.1. USMC links:https:(slash)(slash)www.hqmc.marines.mil/c4/cy/hot/; https:(slash)(slash)www.marforcyber.marines.mil/
2.A.2. Department of the Navy (DON) links: https:(slash)(slash)www.doncio.navy.mil/chips/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=13486; https:(slash)(slash)www.doncio.navy.mil/TagResults.aspx?ID=28
2.A.3. National Security Agency (NSA):https:(slash)(slash)www.nsa.gov/what-we-do/cybersecurity/; https:(slash)(slash)www.nsa.gov/News-Features/News-Stories/Article-View/Article/1652684/#pop2965889
2.A.4. Department of Defense (DOD): https:(slash)(slash)public.cyber.mil; https:(slash)(slash)public.cyber.mil/cybersecurity-awareness-month/;
https:(slash)(slash)storefront.disa.mil/kinetic/disa/servicecatalog#/forms/antivirus-home-use
2.A.5. Department of Homeland Security (DHS): https:(slash)(slash)www.cisa.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month
2.A.6. Carnegie Melon University NCSAM:
https:(slash)(slash)www.cmu.edu/iso/aware/ncsam/index.html
2.A.7. National Cybersecurity Alliance: https:(slash)(slash)staysafeonline.org/resources/
2.B. Each site listed is publicly available, allowing for access at work or at home.  Visit the links, explore and determine which location or combination of locations addresses your cybersecurity awareness needs.  
3.  #BeCyberSmart.  As technology and cybersecurity threats constantly change and evolve, not every problem has a solution, no solution protects forever, and every solution comes with conditions and limitations.  Given these circumstances, learning and applying best cybersecurity practices must be a continuing behavior rather than a one-time act.  Cyber smart organizations must be prepared to work towards goals and objectives even in the face of continuing cybersecurity risk.  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidance that assists with such efforts at https:(slash)(slash)www.nist.gov/itl/smallbusinesscyber/cybersecurity-basics/cybersecurity-risks .
3.A. To be cyber smart requires that individuals learn to constantly be on the lookout for suspicious online activity and develop the online “street smarts” necessary to avoid scams, phishing expeditions and other online threats. For common scams, review the information at https:(slash)(slash)www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes). Decisions to initiate activity online should include deliberate thought about the potential consequences of your actions.
3.B. Practicing Operational Security (OPSEC) goes hand-in-hand with cybersecurity awareness and online safety.  The proliferation of connected technologies has enabled our workforce to be more productive than ever, but also provides our adversaries with more opportunities to gain access to our sensitive information.  Learn more about practicing OPSEC at https:(slash)(slash)securityawareness.usalearning.gov/2020-dod-security-stand-down/courses.html.
4.  Visit Marines.mil during the month of October for more cybersecurity-related features and content. Enter “#BeCyberSmart” in any Internet browser to be automatically directed to a wide range of government, industry and academia cybersecurity awareness resources launched in observance of NCSAM.
5.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Lorna M. Mahlock, Director, Information C4 (IC4) Division, Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I).//