CSC News Table of Contents
Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been officially proclaimed for October by Governor Larry Rhoden, underscoring the state’s commitment to stronger digital safety for every resident and organization.
The proclamation aims to boost public awareness, encourage everyday security habits, and spotlight free resources that help prevent fraud, scams, and data breaches.
In the original announcement, the state called for shared responsibility across government, schools, businesses, and households to build a safer online environment for South Dakotans.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Key Takeaway
- The proclamation elevates Cybersecurity Awareness Month statewide, moving people and organizations from awareness to simple, effective daily protection.
Recommended tools to act on Cybersecurity Awareness Month now
- 1Password – Protect every account with strong, unique passwords and secure sharing.
- Passpack – Team-friendly password management to stop credential reuse.
- IDrive – Affordable encrypted backups to recover fast from ransomware.
- Tenable Vulnerability Management – See and fix risks across your environment.
- EasyDMARC – Stop email spoofing and boost deliverability with DMARC, DKIM, SPF.
- Tresorit – Zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage for teams.
- Optery – Remove your personal data from data brokers and people-search sites.
- Auvik – Monitor and secure networks with instant visibility and alerts.
Why the Proclamation Matters
By spotlighting Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Governor signals that digital safety is a shared priority, on par with public health and emergency preparedness. The effort aligns South Dakota with national campaigns that make security practical and accessible, such as CISA’s Secure Our World.
The proclamation encourages residents and organizations to take simple steps—like turning on multifactor authentication, using strong passwords, updating devices, and learning to spot scams that stop many attacks before they start.
It also complements federal frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, helping small entities apply best practices in manageable phases.
State leaders reinforced the message that awareness must lead to action. That includes learning how criminals operate today, from password cracking with AI tools to sophisticated phishing.
For example, learn how attackers guess credentials in this AI password cracking explainer and how to block common scams in this phishing prevention guide.
Statewide Actions and Resources
Cybersecurity Awareness Month programming often includes community education, school events, tabletop exercises, and small-business workshops.
In South Dakota, that work typically involves collaboration among state IT, public safety, higher education, K–12 districts, and local governments. The proclamation helps coordinate those efforts during the month and beyond.
Public and private partners can amplify the message by promoting free and trusted resources, such as:
- FBI IC3 Annual Reports to understand trending scams and losses
- National Cybersecurity Alliance toolkits for households and small businesses
- CISA Secure Our World videos, checklists, and posters for community outreach
In the original announcement, officials emphasized practical defenses and quick reporting of incidents. Guidance like six steps to defend against ransomware helps communities prepare for the most disruptive threats.
How Residents and Businesses Can Participate
Use Cybersecurity Awareness Month to set priorities and pick a few actions you will maintain all year. Even small moves lower risk in meaningful ways:
- Turn on multifactor authentication wherever offered, especially for email and banking.
- Adopt a password manager and unique passwords; update old logins and enable passkeys when available.
- Patch promptly, set devices, browsers, and apps to auto-update.
- Back up critical files to an encrypted cloud or offline drive; test recovery.
- Train your team to spot phishing, verify requests, and report anything suspicious fast.
- Review email security (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to block spoofing and fraud.
Implications for Communities and Agencies
Advantages:
The proclamation elevates cyber readiness across sectors. It encourages leaders to budget for security basics, invest in training, and formalize incident response.
Public awareness reduces the success of common attacks like phishing, and it builds a culture where people speak up early, often the key to containing damage. It also aligns state efforts with national programs for grants, guidance, and information sharing.
Challenges:
Awareness alone is not enough. Smaller entities may struggle with staffing, legacy technology, or competing priorities. Ransomware and supply chain risks keep evolving, and attackers increasingly exploit social engineering.
Sustaining momentum after October requires leadership support, measurable goals, and continuous improvement, especially for critical services like schools, healthcare, and local utilities.
Top picks to strengthen your security before incidents strike
- Tenable Security Solutions – Prioritize and remediate your most urgent vulnerabilities.
- IDrive – Set-and-forget backups to protect essential files and servers.
- EasyDMARC – Authenticate email, stop spoofing, and prevent impersonation.
- Tresorit for Business – Share and store files with end-to-end encryption.
- Tresorit eSign – Secure document signing with Swiss-grade privacy.
- Optery – Reduce identity theft risk by removing exposed personal data.
- 1Password – Simplify strong authentication across your workforce.
- Auvik – Discover devices instantly and spot risky changes in real time.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a timely reminder: simple, steady habits prevent most incidents. South Dakota’s proclamation sets a tone of shared responsibility and practical action.
By using trusted guidance, adopting basic controls, and planning for rapid response, communities can reduce risk while keeping essential services running. Households can protect finances and privacy with the same core steps.
Let this Cybersecurity Awareness Month be the start of a year-round routine: update, back up, authenticate, and verify. A few minutes each week can protect what matters most.
FAQs
What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?
– A national campaign every October that promotes simple steps to stay safe online.
Why did the state issue a proclamation?
– To make security a statewide priority, coordinate education, and encourage action across sectors.
How can families participate?
– Turn on multifactor authentication, use a password manager, update devices, and discuss common scams.
What should small businesses do first?
– Secure email, require MFA, back up data, train staff, and create an incident response plan.
Where can I learn about current threats?
– Check CISA’s alerts, the FBI IC3 reports, and trusted explainers on phishing and ransomware.
About the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT)
The South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications provides statewide IT services, cybersecurity, and telecommunications support for executive branch agencies. BIT safeguards data, systems, and networks that power public services.
The bureau leads enterprise security initiatives, partners with local governments and schools, and coordinates resources for incident management, resiliency, and risk reduction.
BIT collaborates with state leadership and national partners to apply best practices, improve defenses, and ensure technology supports efficient, reliable government operations.
Biography: Governor Larry Rhoden
Governor Larry Rhoden has long served South Dakota in leadership roles, advocating for responsible governance and community resilience. He emphasizes practical, people-first approaches to public safety and economic growth.
His focus on cybersecurity highlights the importance of safeguarding families, schools, and businesses from evolving online threats through simple, effective habits.
By elevating awareness and collaboration, he encourages statewide action that strengthens critical services and protects citizens’ privacy and finances.
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