“October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a timely reminder for us to take stock of our online habits. It is also a great time to learn about evolving cyber threats so you can protect yourself and your information.
"Digital services, cloud and mobile technologies are part of our everyday life, be it for personal or professional use. With this comes the potential for cyberattacks. Last year, we successfully blocked an average of 129 million potentially malicious attempts every day to connect to the Government of Alberta’s network.
“That’s why Alberta’s government takes cybersecurity very seriously. We place the highest importance on protection, vigilance, response and deterrence against attacks on our digital ecosystem. We also take a multifaceted approach to security, applying best practice and standards to identify, detect and treat cyber threats, as well as to respond and recover from cybersecurity incidents.
“As leaders in the public sector cybersecurity community, we continuously adjust our approach by working with federal, provincial and territorial counterparts to adopt new tactics and explore new tools to counter ever-evolving online threats. This includes creating and growing the CyberAlberta Community of Interest – a group of more than 600 cybersecurity experts from public, private and non-profit organizations who work collaboratively on many initiatives to strengthen Alberta’s cybersecurity defences.
“Cybersecurity Awareness Month is also a good reminder for every Albertan about the risks that exist online and the importance of taking appropriate action to protect your information. This could include using strong passwords, keeping your software updated and being cautious about clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown senders. Regularly backing up your important data is also a good way to protect yourself in case of a cyberattack. Just as we lock our doors and windows to protect our homes, we need to take steps to protect our digital lives.
“Trust is at the heart of everything cyber-related. Whether applying for a health-care card, driver’s licence or income support payments, Albertans need to know they are protected by digital infrastructure that is strong and secure whenever they interact with us online. Our soon-to-be-released Cybersecurity Strategy will continue to ensure your provincial programs and services are protected into the future.
“Our CyberAlberta website includes a range of services and resources focused on cybersecurity practices, information on current cyber trends and attacks, how to manage cyber risks and strengthen defenses, and preventative measures. I encourage everyone to learn about ways to protect themselves and be cyber safe.”