Province issues statement to recognize Cybersecurity Awareness Month

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on October 9, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

With the start of October comes Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in honour of the occasion, the province issued a statement encouraging residents to take a look at their online habits.

Digital services, cloud and mobile technologies are part of everyday life, be it for personal or professional use. With this comes the potential for cyberattacks.

“Last year, we successfully blocked an average of 129 million potentially malicious attempts every day to connect to the Government of Alberta’s network,” said Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is also a good reminder for every Albertan about the risks that exist online and the importance of taking appropriate action to protect your information, said Glubish.

This could include using strong passwords, keeping your software updated and being cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown senders. Regularly backing up important data is also a good way to keep safe in case of a cyberattack.

“Just as we lock our doors and windows to protect our homes, we need to take steps to protect our digital lives,” said Glubish. “Trust is at the heart of everything cyber-related. Whether applying for a health-care card, driver’s licence or income support payments, Albertans need to know they are protected by digital infrastructure that is strong and secure whenever they interact with us online.”

Alberta’s Government will soon be releasing a Cybersecurity Strategy that will aim to protect provincial programs and services into the future.

“Our CyberAlberta website includes a range of services and resources focused on cybersecurity practices, information on current cyber trends and attacks, how to manage cyber risks and strengthen defences, and preventative measures,” said Glubish. “I encourage everyone to learn about ways to protect themselves and be cyber safe.”

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