NCDOC Kicks-off Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Photo By REBECCA SIDERS | SUFFOLK, Va (Oct. 5, 2017) Capt. Julia Slattery, commanding officer of Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command (NCDOC), speaks to the Suffolk Rotary Club about the anatomy of a cyber attack and provides comprehensive ways they can practice cybersecurity at home and in their businesses. Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command executes defensive cyberspace operations and enables global power projection through proactive network defense. (U.S. Navy photo by Rebecca Siders/Released).  

SUFFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

10.11.2017

Story by REBECCA SIDERS 

U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet

SUFFOLK, Va. – The commanding officer of Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command (NCDOC), Capt. Julia L. Slattery, kicked off National Cybersecurity Awareness Month as a guest speaker for the Suffolk Rotary Club luncheon at the Suffolk Elks Lodge on Oct. 5.

Organizations across the country are observing the month of October as National Cyber Security Awareness month. The Department of the Navy and NCDOC are using this campaign to help educate the community and Navy personnel on how to operate safely in a digital environment and understand their shared responsibility in protecting networks.

Grier Ferguson, a Suffolk Rotary Club member and a local attorney for the law firm of Ferguson Rawls & Raines, P.C., introduced Slattery as a cryptologic warfare officer and the seventh commanding officer of NCDOC embedded in the Suffolk community. She began her speech by highlighting how cyber threats are real and not limited to the realm of military cyber operations.

“Cyber threats impact each of you in your daily lives and in your professions. I believe it is vital to understand the stages of how cyber criminals can compromise a computer system because a significant portion of what enables a cyber intrusion can be due to human error.”

Slattery discussed the different phases of a cyber attack and provided specific practices in which individuals and businesses can defend themselves from being an easy target of cyber threats.

“Firewalls and anti-virus software is critical but they cannot defend against flawed human behavior. Be vigilant. Practice good password security. Think before you click. Question the unusual and unsolicited messages in your inbox. Read the fine print on any system you install to protect your professional and personal systems. Take the time to sit with your vendor and ask how they keep current on their best cybersecurity practices, and ask for the process you should take if/when you suspect a compromise has occurred.”

Slattery conlduded with suggestions for the attendees on how think about personal online behavior.

“Treat your digital life as precious as you treat your physical life,” she said. “Be ever vigilant.”

She then answered multiple questions during the question and answer session to include inquiries about the recent Equifax breach, zero day exploits, and recruiting personnel.

The Suffolk Rotary Club has approximately 100 members and includes many local business owners, professional and city government leaders such as the city manager.

“We take great pride in having quality programs and guest speakers for club members each week,” Said Ferguson. There was a 74% turnout for this event.

Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command executes defensive cyberspace operations and enables global power projection through proactive network defense of Navy networks and systems and reports operationally to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet. For more information about NCDOC, visit www.public.navy.mil/fcc-c10f/ncdoc.

U.S. Fleet Cyber Command serves as the Navy component command to U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, and the Navy’s Service Cryptologic Component commander under the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. Fleet Cyber Command also reports directly to the Chief of Naval Operations as an Echelon II command.

U.S. 10th Fleet is the operational arm of Fleet Cyber Command and executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders. In this role, C10F provides operational direction through its Maritime Operations Center located at Fort George Meade Md., executing command and control over assigned forces in support of Navy or joint missions in cyber/networks, information operations, electronic warfare, cryptologic/signals intelligence and space.

• Date Taken: 10.11.2017
• Date Posted: 10.11.2017 13:48
• Story ID: 251246
• Location: SUFFOLK, VA, US