New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies

June Noto, Vice President of Information Technology, Human Resources and Administrative Services, New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA) today announced that the NJAMHAA IT Project has become a Champion of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2017. The IT Project will be joining a growing global effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals to promote online safety awareness.

Recognized every October, NCSAM was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all digital citizens have the resources needed to stay safer and more secure online while also protecting their personal information. As an official Champion, NJAMHAA's IT Project demonstrates its commitment to cybersecurity, online safety and privacy.

Ms. Noto stated, "Cyber security is everyone's job! Whether you are a consumer, a business professional or even just someone who uses the Internet for any reason, everyone should be aware of what cyber criminals are after and what you can do to keep yourself, your family and your business safe."

Coordinated and led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), NCSAM has grown exponentially since its inception, reaching consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation and internationally. NCSAM 2016 was an unprecedented success, generating more than 2,260 unique news stories - an increase of 30 percent from NCSAM 2015's media coverage. Kicking off NCSAM's 14th year, this October presents a new opportunity to expand cybersecurity and privacy education and awareness globally.

"The Champion program is a vital part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month's ongoing success. Last year, 870 organizations joined - a 24-percent increase from the year before," said Michael Kaiser, NCSA's Executive Director. "We are thankful to our 2017 Champion organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cybersecurity and online safety awareness."

As part of its NCSAM efforts, the IT Project will be hosting another annual conference in February 2018 that highlights cyber security awareness, in addition to posting information on the NJAMHAA website.

For more information about NCSAM, the Champion program and how to participate in a wide variety of activities, visit staysafeonline.org/ncsam. You can also follow and use the official NCSAM hashtag #CyberAware on Twitter throughout the month.