National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 2010

Proclamation 8573 of October 1, 2010

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, 2010

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America's digital infrastructure is critical to laying
the foundation for our economic prosperity, government
efficiency, and national security. We stand at a
transformational moment in history, when our
technologically interconnected world presents both
immense promise and potential risks. The same
technology that provides new opportunities for economic
growth and the free exchange of information around the
world also makes possible new threats. During National
Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we recognize the risk of
cyber attacks and the important steps we can take to
strengthen our digital literacy and cybersecurity.

America relies on our digital infrastructure daily, and
protecting this strategic asset is a national security
priority. My Administration is committed to advancing
both the security of our informational infrastructure
and the cutting-edge research and development necessary
to meet the digital challenges of our time. Earlier
this year, we marked the one-year anniversary of my
Administration's thorough review of Federal efforts to
defend our Nation's information technology and
communications infrastructure. We must continue to work
closely with a broad array of partners--from Federal,
State, local, and tribal governments to foreign
governments, academia, law enforcement, and the private
sector--to reduce risk and build resilience in our
shared critical information and communications
infrastructure.

All Americans must recognize our shared responsibility
and play an active role in securing the cyber networks
we use every day. National Cybersecurity Awareness
Month provides an opportunity to learn more about the
importance of cybersecurity. To that end, the
Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Trade
Commission have highlighted basic cybersecurity tips
every computer user should adopt, including using
security software tools, backing up important files,
and protecting children online. I urge all Americans to
visit DHS.gov/Cyber and OnGuardOnline.gov for more
information about practices that can enhance the
security of our shared cyber networks.

Effective cyber networks connect us and allow us to
conduct business around the globe faster than ever
before. We must advance innovative public- and private-
sector initiatives to protect the confidentiality of
sensitive information, the integrity of e-commerce, and
the resilience of our cyber infrastructure. Together
with businesses, community-based organizations, and
public- and private-sector partners, we are launching a
National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign: ``Stop.
Think. Connect.'' Through this initiative, Americans
can learn about and become more aware of risks in
cyberspace, and be empowered to make choices that
contribute to our overall security.

The growth and spread of technology has already
transformed international security and the global
marketplace. So long as the United States--the Nation
that created the Internet and launched an information
revolution--continues to be a pioneer in both
technological innovation and cybersecurity, we will
maintain our strength, resilience, and leadership in
the 21st century.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim October 2010 as
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. I call upon the
people of the United States to recognize the importance
of cybersecurity and to observe this month with
activities, events, and trainings that will enhance our
national security and resilience.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.