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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH 2023
WHEREAS, the Cook County Government recognizes that it has a vital role in identifying, protecting its residents from, and responding to cybersecurity threats that may have significant impact to our individual and collective safety and privacy; and
WHEREAS, The Cook County Board of Commissioners are dedicated to providing everyone in Cook County the information necessary to promote the understanding, implementation, and success of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month to help the residents of Cook County stay safe online and connect with confidence; and
WHEREAS, since 2014, with the creation of the Information Security Ordinance, Cook County has required all Agencies to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information; and
WHEREAS, The Cook County Board of Commissioners created the Information Security Working Group, strengthening inter-agency cooperation and collaboration with City, State, and Federal agencies and promoting cybersecurity for our infrastructure, services to residents, and the election processes; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has created a comprehensive privacy policy to protect residents’ information and govern the County's handling practices, collection, and use of personal data, as well as the specific rights of Data Subjects; and
WHEREAS, cybersecurity education and awareness are crucial for everyone, including large corporations, small businesses, financial institutions, schools, government agencies, Cook County residents, and anyone who connects to the internet, and a connected society is subject to cybersecurity threats that can compromise even the most personal and sensitive of information; and
WHEREAS, maintaining the security of cyberspace is a shared responsibility in which each of us has a critical role to play, and awareness of computer security essentials will improve the security of Cook County’s information, infrastructure, and economy; and
WHEREAS, monitoring online accounts, being conscientious of what you share online, keeping computer software up to date, using multi-factor authentication, creating unique passwords, and changing them regularly, installing anti-virus programs and firewalls, and using mobile devices safely are ways you can protect yourself from phishing, viruses, malware, financial loss, and loss of sensitive data; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Government of the United States of America, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (www.cisa.gov), the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac), the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (www.nascio.org), and the National Cyber Security Alliance (www.staysafeonline.org) all recognize October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month; and all Cook County residents are encouraged to visit these websites, to learn about cybersecurity to put that knowledge into practice in their homes, schools, workplaces, and businesses; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim that Cook County is officially supporting National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October of 2023.
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