HAMILTON, NJ – Following Governor Mikie Sherrill’s proclamation recognizing October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) are encouraging residents, businesses, and organizations to take steps to strengthen their cybersecurity.

New Jersey’s observance coincides with the national Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign, “Securing the Next 250,” which recognizes the nation’s 250th anniversary and focuses on building a secure digital future.

“New Jersey is home to world-renowned businesses and infrastructure critical to U.S. commerce and national security, situated along one of the nation’s busiest transportation corridors. Our critical role makes us a target for malign cyber actors, with the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell blocking an average of 6.5 million cyberattacks each day,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill.
“Cybersecurity Awareness Month underscores the importance of equipping our State workforce, who are on the front lines of protecting essential services, to recognize and respond to evolving threats, keeping New Jersey at the leading edge of cybersecurity year-round. Cyber threats will not stop, and neither should we.”

Observed annually in October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is jointly led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The campaign promotes best practices for staying safe online.

In support of the national campaign, the NJCCIC, a component organization of NJOHSP, is encouraging residents and organizations to strengthen their cyber defenses by:

• Using strong passwords and a password manager
• Enabling multi-factor authentication
• Keeping software updated
• Recognizing phishing and other social engineering scams
• Backing up important data and encrypting sensitive information

“Cybersecurity is fundamental to New Jersey’s safety, security, and resilience,” said NJOHSP Director Thomas Hauck. “As cyber threats evolve and grow more sophisticated, protecting our critical systems and data becomes increasingly vital. That makes cybersecurity a team effort, one where everyone shares responsibility every single day, not just during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.”

According to the NJCCIC, common threats include phishing and text-message scams, credential theft and unauthorized account access, and ransomware.

“The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell works every day to help New Jerseyans better understand and protect against the cyber threats they face,” said NJCCIC Director Michael Geraghty. “Through timely alerts, guidance, and resources, we help individuals and organizations make informed decisions, recognize emerging threats, and take proactive steps to secure their information, systems, and networks. When we stay informed and maintain strong cyber hygiene practices, we each become essential to our state’s cyber defense.”

For cybersecurity best practices, incident reporting, and additional resources, or to sign up for a free NJCCIC membership, visit cyber.nj.gov.

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