Have some great security awareness ideas?  Feel like no one hears your ideas?  Then you will be interested in a new contest/challenge issued by the Dept. of Homeland Security.  The invitation is to  people from industry and even individuals to enter this event. I know personally from 11 years in this industry talking to national and state level government, as well as  Fortune 50 and small businesses, that the missing link between our ISMS Information Security Management System) and security incidents is the need to increase user awareness.  Some of the handlers were saying that if we can have public interest messages on forest fires, then surely we should use this same platform to recommend best practices for all computer users!

The program is open to anyone, and the closing date is April 30, 2010.  The winners will be invited to an event in Washington D.C. in late May or early June to partner with the DHS to lead in the planning and launch of the Cyber Security Awareness month in October.  Get more information on this contest here:  www.dhs.gov/files/cyber-awareness-campaign.shtm

Even if you don't enter, there is still time to get started planning your event for this year!  I'd love to hear your ideas for your 2010 campaign (if you aren't going to enter). 

Mari Nichols

Handler on Duty