Cybersecurity Awareness Month

WHEREAS, Nevada law designates October as “Cybersecurity Awareness Month” and calls upon the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging observance; and

WHEREAS, secure and reliable technology supports public safety, health, education, commerce, and daily life, while malicious cyber activity threatens Nevada’s economy and critical infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Governor’s Technology Office (GTO) and the Nevada Office of Emergency Management / Homeland Security (OEM/HS) are integrating cyber preparedness into Nevada’s all-hazards approach to prevention, response, and recovery; and   

WHEREAS, Nevada is committed to ensuring that state government’s use of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, is implemented securely, ethically, and in alignment with statewide technology governance programs so that these innovations strengthen government services, safeguard public trust, and continue to support Nevadans through reliable, modern, and transparent digital solutions; and

WHEREAS, recent criminal cyber activity nationwide, including disruptions to public services and critical infrastructure, highlights the need for strong identity protections, rapid detection, coordinated response, and steady public communication; and

WHEREAS, every Nevadan can lower risk by using long, unique passphrases (or a password manager), turning on multi-factor authentication (a second verification step), promptly updating software, and recognizing phishing (fraudulent messages which seek to trick users); and

WHEREAS, free, practical resources such as the CIS Critical Security Controls and NIST workforce tools help organizations of all sizes raise their security baseline; and

WHEREAS, public-private collaboration through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO), and the National Cybersecurity Alliance supports Nevada’s work to prevent, detect, and respond to threats; and

WHEREAS, Nevada’s cybersecurity ecosystem—led by the Office of Information Security and Cyber Defense, in partnership with OEM/HS, local governments, and critical-infrastructure operators—works year-round to protect the services people rely on; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOE LOMBARDO, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2026 as

CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH