National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2016 Champion

First National Bank Becomes National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2016 Champion

First National Bank announces that they have become a Champion of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2016. First National Bank 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, First National Bank recognizes the commitment to cybersecurity, online safety and privacy.

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 2015 was an unprecedented success, generating more than 1,700 news stories –an increase of 74 percent from NCSAM 2014’s media coverage. Kicking off NCSAM’s 13th 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. More than 700 organizations joined last year, a nearly 80-percent increase from the year before,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. “We are thankful to our 2016 Champion organizations for their support and commitment to our shared responsibility of promoting cybersecurity and online safety awareness."

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.

First National Bank is a full service community bank locally owned that specializes in commercial, ag and personal banking. First National Bank has offices in Creston and Afton with assets of $235 million.

About National Cyber Security Awareness Month

Now in its 13th year, NCSAM is designed to engage and educate public- and private-sector partners through events and initiatives with the goal of raising awareness about cybersecurity in order to increase the resiliency of the nation in the event of a cyber incident. Since President Obama’s proclamation establishing NCSAM in 2004, NCSAM has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments and leaders from industry and academia. This united effort is necessary to maintain a cyberspace that is safer and more resilient and remains a source of tremendous opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, visit staysafeonline.org/ncsam or dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance

The National Cyber Security Alliance is the nation's leading nonprofit, public-private partnership promoting cybersecurity and privacy education and awareness. NCSA works with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and NCSA's Board of Directors, which include representatives from ADP; AT&T Services, Inc.; Bank of America; Barclays; BlackBerry Corporation; Cisco; Comcast Corporation; ESET North America; Facebook; Google; Intel Corporation; Logical Operations; Microsoft Corp.; PayPal; PKWARE; RSA, the Security Division of EMC; Raytheon; SANS Institute; Symantec and Visa Inc. NCSA’s core efforts include National Cyber Security Awareness Month (October), Data Privacy Day (January 28) and STOP. THINK. CONNECT., the global online safety awareness and education campaign led by NCSA and the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), with federal government leadership from DHS. For more information on NCSA, please visit staysafeonline.org/about-us/overview/.

About STOP. THINK. CONNECT.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ is the global online safety awareness campaign to help all digital citizens stay safer and more secure online. The message was created by an unprecedented coalition of private companies, nonprofits and government organizations with leadership provided by NCSA and the APWG. The campaign was launched in October of 2010 by the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Messaging Convention in partnership with the U.S. government, including the White House. NCSA, in partnership with the APWG, continues to lead the campaign. DHS leads the federal engagement in the campaign. Learn how to get involved by following STOP. THINK. CONNECT. on Facebook and Twitter and visiting stopthinkconnect.org.