Rep. Arlene Beckles Recognizes October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

ATLANTA - State Representative Arlene Beckles (D-Norcross) is recognizing October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and encouraging residents, businesses, schools and local governments across Gwinnett County and Georgia to protect themselves from cyber threats.

"Cybersecurity is no longer something that only IT departments need to worry about," said Rep. Beckles. "Our phones, our businesses, our schools, our hospitals, our banks and even our local governments are connected to the digital world. When those systems are attacked, real people and real communities are affected."

Rep. Beckles notes that this year's theme, "Securing the Next 250," calls on Americans to strengthen digital defenses as the nation looks toward its next 250 years. She adds that the theme, led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), emphasizes that cybersecurity is not simply a technology issue but a shared responsibility that requires communities to work together.

"As a cybersecurity professional and state legislator, I believe Georgia must continue to strengthen cybersecurity while also making cybersecurity education accessible to everyday Georgians," added Rep. Beckles. "Recent cyber incidents affecting local governments and businesses have demonstrated that a cyberattack can disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive information and create significant financial and operational consequences."

Rep. Beckles is also encouraging businesses and government organizations to look beyond individual cyber hygiene and examine their broader systems. She encourages organizations to consider whether they have a plan for responding to a cyberattack, whether certain systems and data are backed up and recoverable, whether vendors and third-party partners are protecting sensitive information, whether employees receive regular cybersecurity training, whether they can quickly identify and contain a breach and whether residents and customers are prepared to be notified if their information is compromised.

"We don't have to be cybersecurity experts to be cyber smart," continued Rep. Beckles. "There are simple things each of us can do-use strong and unique passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication, keep software updated, recognize phishing attempts and think carefully before clicking a link or sharing personal information."

Rep. Beckles further notes that CISA's 2026 campaign highlights the importance of protecting the organizations and infrastructure that communities depend on, including state and local governments, small and medium-sized businesses and critical infrastructure.

"Cybersecurity is ultimately about protecting people," concluded Rep. Beckles. "Whether you are a parent protecting your family's information, a small-business owner protecting your customers or a local government protecting the services residents depend on, every one of us has a role to play."

Representative Arlene Beckles represents the citizens of District 96, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2024 and currently serves on the Special Rules, State Properties and Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committees.

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