Institute of Cyber Security for Society (iCSS)

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iCSS 2023 cyber security awareness video

2024 Cyber Security Awareness Month

2024 iCSS Cyber Security Awareness Month (iCSS-CSM24)

Introduction

In October 2024, iCSS will be organising a Cyber Security Awareness Month (iCSS-CSM24), which will see many activities for raising awareness on cyber security among students, staff and visitors of the University of Kent and local people living in the Kent and Medway region.

The Kent and Medway wide activities will be organised jointly with two local ecosystem building bodies, KMCC (Kent & Medway Cyber Cluster Ltd) and KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network), and with a student society – KMCS3 (Kent & Medway Cyber Security Student Society).

Activities

A wide range of activities are being planned. Confirmed activities are listed below, and more will be added throughout October.

Although such activities are organised mainly for students and staff of the University of Kent, most are open to all including the general public.

Cyber Security Awareness Month as a worldwide initiative

The idea of a Cyber Security Awareness Month in October originally started in the USA, and the first of such National Cybersecurity Awareness Months (NCSMs) was organised in 2004, declared by the President and Congress of the USA. Later the European Union adopted the idea, and started the European Cybersecurity Month (ECSM) in 2012. In the UK, different organisations have been promoting the Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, e.g., DSIT, NHS and the cyber security training sector. Several UK universities have organised Cyber Security Awareness Month in the past, e.g., University College London (UCL); Queen Mary University of London; Royal Holloway, University of London; and University of Portsmouth.