If cybersecurity awareness were a baseball doubleheader, the first game, you might say, would be played in September with National Preparedness Month and the second game of the twin bill would occur in October with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Because just as the pennant races give way to the playoffs and the Fall Classic, otherwise known as the World Series, it’s over that same time period of time – a couple of months -- that we have an opportunity to remind ourselves of the importance to stay safe whenever we’re online.

After all, both campaigns are intended to make us feel good, educating us with all kinds of best practices, resources, and tips that are provided to us with the confidence of a major league pitcher giving us a recommendation on how to throw a 100-mph slider. And whether we’re at home, at work, at school, or we’re engaging with our friends or family on social media, the importance of incorporating these steps – as part of our daily life – can’t be understated.

In 2025, the theme for National Preparedness Month is “Preparedness Starts at Home”. As it relates to cyber, everyone is encouraged to adopt the "Core 4" principles that include:

• Using strong, unique passwords and a password manager
• Enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) on accounts
• Updating your software to patch vulnerabilities
• Recognizing and reporting scams
  • It’s a good idea to secure your home network by changing default router passwords, use strong antivirus software, and regularly back up your important files to an encrypted format.

Additionally, the Ready.gov cybersecurity website offers a wide range of steps that you can take to be prepared, ranging from additional information on ways you can protect yourself and the steps to take – and who to contact – if you suspect that your personal or financial information has been compromised. Here in the Hoosier State, you can also visit the “Report a Cyber Incident” website page on the Indiana Cyber Hub on what you need to know as it relates to reporting a scam to the authorities, whether you’re an individual or you’re a part of an organization that’s been impacted.

Of course, once we’re through September, it’s on to October and a month-long opportunity to remind ourselves of the role that cybersecurity plays in our daily life – every day of the year!

Originally launched in 2004 by the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is intended to encourage the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity through education, engagement, and shared responsibility.

For its part, in 2025, CISA’s theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Building a Cyber Strong America”, highlighting the need to strengthen the country's critical infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security.

As we’ve come to realize, cyber threats don’t take time off and, throughout the month, CISA will be encouraging all U.S. small and medium businesses and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to take one action each day to improve their cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity is more than an IT issue – it’s a public safety and economic security priority. Many organizations are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, from local utilities and transportation systems to hospitals, schools and public safety agencies. And many small and medium size businesses play an important role in critical infrastructure, who might be suppliers, contractors, vendors, manufacturers, or another role that helps keep critical infrastructure operating.

To celebrate, CISA is recommending that companies, agencies, and organizations follow four key steps to underscore the importance of cybersecurity, including:

• Recognizing the opportunity: Cybersecurity Awareness Month is your chance to engage your entire organization on the importance of cybersecurity. Whether you’re shaping policy, leading a team or simply practicing more secure habits, your involvement matters.
• Getting your customers and vendors involved: Share cybersecurity best practices with your customers and vendors and encourage them to commit to stronger cybersecurity. We all need to do our part to keep our communities safe.
• Planning your participation: Use the ideas and no-cost tools in this guide to promote Cybersecurity Awareness Month throughout October. Coordinate with leadership, IT, HR and other teams to ensure consistent messaging.
• Thinking long term: Talk with leadership and IT about adopting cybersecurity policies that include all of CISA’s best practices. Include your vendors and partners in the conversation so your whole supply chain is more secure.

With all this talk about baseball, it’s a popular phrase to say “let’s play two”; a quote attributed to Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks, who once expressed his joyful love for the game and the desire to play a doubleheader on a beautiful day.

With that in mind, as September gives way to October, we’ll soon get the opportunity to see two teams battle for a World Series championship while, at the same time, we can improve our skills at being better prepared. And perhaps, we'll walk it off and sweep both halves of the doubleheader from a would-be cybercriminal. That would be beautiful, right?