Governor Stein Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Governor Josh Stein has proclaimed October Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina to encourage all North Carolinians to prioritize online safety and protect themselves from online threats and scams.

"As bad actors find new ways to target North Carolinians online, our state is working to equip people with the knowledge, skills, and resources to safely navigate today's digital world," said Governor Josh Stein. "I encourage everyone to stay vigilant and learn how to recognize suspicious activity to protect themselves and their loved ones online."

According to a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolinians lost more than $431 million to internet crimes in 2025, up from $324 million in 2024. More than $15 million of the 2025 losses were related to artificial intelligence.

"Cybersecurity is a collective effort, and we all must be vigilant about online safety," said N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Nate Denny. "We are expanding our defenses against cyberattacks and taking proactive steps to protect state systems and residents' data in an ever-changing threat landscape."

NCDIT, along with partners at the state, local, and federal levels, works to safeguard North Carolina's government IT systems, data, and assets. Key steps the state has taken to protect North Carolina from cyberthreats include:

• Securing $85 million for cybersecurity investments. This funding includes $18 million in new yearly funding and $42 million in one-time funding for critical cybersecurity upgrades, representing the biggest strategic investment in cybersecurity in the state's history, as well as an additional $25 million to support system upgrades to safeguard services and prevent disruptions.
• Developing a five-year cybersecurity strategic plan to safeguard the state's digital infrastructure, protect North Carolinians' data, and ensure the continuity of essential services.
• Developing a roadmap to help state agencies responsibly adopt artificial intelligence and protect North Carolinians from its risks.
• Investing in a cybersecurity internship program with the Carolina Cyber Network as well as a military veteran apprenticeship program to help build North Carolina's cybersecurity workforce.
• Connecting North Carolinians to technical support, digital skills classes, and telehealth access points across the state through our Tech Resource Finder. This information is also can be accessed by anyone calling 211.

While the state agencies work to strengthen the state's defenses, people can take simple steps to safeguard their personal information, recognize scams, and protect themselves and their loved ones online.

• Verify unexpected or unusual messages. Confirm the authenticity of emails, texts, social media requests, or calls by contacting the sender through another method. Never reply or use contact information from the message itself.
• Be careful with links. Scammers use emails, texts, and fake websites to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Open links and attachments from only trusted sources.
• Learn to spot fakes. AI enables new forms of fraud. If a video or photo looks "too perfect" or unnatural, check the source before believing or sharing it.
• Protect your information. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication for extra security.
• Update devices and software. Turn on automatic updates or install them as soon as they are available.

To help further educate North Carolinians about the importance of cybersecurity, NCDIT will share tips and resources on social media using the hashtag #CyberSecureNC throughout the month. More information about staying safe online is available at it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC.