October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Summary

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this year’s theme, “Building a Cyber Strong America,” highlights the need to strengthen U.S. infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security. Many organizations are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, from local utilities and transportation systems to the many small and medium-sized businesses that play an important role in keeping critical infrastructure operating.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is the federal lead for the campaign, providing resources for organizations to help educate employees and other connected entities. It emphasizes that cybersecurity is more than an IT issue—it’s a priority for public safety and economic security.

The “Building a Cyber Strong America,” campaign builds on past efforts to empower everyone to protect against online threats and offers additional ways to help keep the nation’s critical infrastructure secure against cyber threats. This year, there are additional recommendations for small/medium business and state, local, tribal and territorial government organizations that own, operate, or support critical infrastructure.
CISA recommends cybersecurity best practices to reduce the chance of being a victim of a disruptive cyberattack, providing no-cost information, services and tools to guide organizations in implementing these behaviors.
 

Save on ISA OT cybersecurity training this month

In addition to standards that help secure the functional safety lifecycle, such as ANSI/ISA61511 and ISA/IEC 62443, ISA offers a range of OT cybersecurity training courses and certifications. To help automation professionals level up their skills this month, ISA is offering a discount on virtual classroom and instructor-guided online courses through the end of the year, as well as self-paced modular training. . Save 300 USD on courses and 10% on select cybersecurity standards using promo code CYBER25 when you purchase online.

Online ordering is available here. Discounts are valid on list and member pricing and all purchases must be made by 31 October 2025.

 ISA cybersecurity training is based on ISA/IEC 62443, the world's only consensus-based series of industrial automation and control system (IACS) cybersecurity standards. Learn how to secure systems across the full lifecycle and stay ahead of evolving threats.

You can learn more online about how CISA is empowering everyone to “build a cyber-strong America.”

According to CISA, “This year, we are showing special appreciation for systems and services that sustain us every day. This includes things like clean water, secure transportation, access to quality healthcare, secure financial transactions, rapid communications and more. These and other important services are under constant threat from cyber-attacks. U.S. businesses and governments that own, operate, or support critical infrastructure are the front line against successful cyber intrusions.” 

_{This news item also appears in Automation.com's 2nd Annual Cybersecurity Trends Report, published in October 2025}.