We’re all familiar with Smokey the Bear and the “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” slogan. In 2015, Smokey got an update and the new “Receive a Bear Hug” ads ran nationwide. In the ad, Smokey runs out of the woods and gives a big bearhug to a camper for properly checking camp fire embers. The new, more huggable version of Smokey rewards campers for making responsible decisions rather than scolding them to prevent wild fires. Fear and anxiety are not always the best motivators, and many people respond better to positive motivation through awareness activities.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In 2003, it was created to ensure that Americans have the resources they need to stay safe and secure online. October is a great time for small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to educate employees about the vital role they play in protecting the business against cyber attacks while providing a positive cybersecurity message. A good way to do this is to create a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan and communicate the critical role that each employee plays in preventing and responding to an incident.

Click here to read the entire blog post by Pat Toth, Computer Scientist at NIST MEP as well as Cybersecurity Program Manager.