PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) – Governor Larry Rhoden has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in South Dakota.

This proclamation recognizes the critical importance of cybersecurity in protecting the state’s infrastructure, economy, and citizens. South Dakota is committed to identifying, protecting against, and responding to cybersecurity threats that could impact the safety of and privacy of individuals and the state as a whole. As digital technologies continue to power essential services throughout all corners of our state, cybersecurity has become a shared responsibility for all.

“In our digital world, cybersecurity is synonymous with safety,” said South Dakota Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT) Commissioner Mark Wixon. As we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s champion the development of secure practices and behaviors in our daily tech interactions. By embracing these habits, we not only protect ourselves, but also contribute to a vision of South Dakota that remains strong, safe, and free for generations to come.”

This year’s campaign theme is ‘Secure Every Click,’ which emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety of every email, link, and website visited by everyone to protect yourself, your family, and our state.

“Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a fantastic opportunity to refresh on security fundamentals and also learn about best practices for common threats,” said South Dakota Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT) Chief Information and Security Officer Johnathon Hampe. “It’s important to remember that basic long-standing practices like keeping devices updated, setting strong passwords, and thinking twice before we click can make an incredible difference in both our personal and professional cybersecurity postures.”

To avoid such threats, the citizens of South Dakota are reminded to:

• Use strong passwords or password phrases;

• Utilize a password manager;

• Recognize and report phishing attempts;

• Never enter private personal information in AI tools; and

• Verify requests for private information.

For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org/resources/online-safety-privacy-basics/.

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace.

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