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DOW Kicks Off Cybersecurity Awareness Month With Fresh Initiative Launch

The Brilliant at the Basics is designed to bolster the rudiments of cybersecurity in the information and operational technology environments.

Indiana Army National Guardsmen attend the Cybersecurity Incident Response Handler Course during Cyber Shield 2026 at the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 13, 2026. Credit: Staff Sgt. Jason Archer

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Department of War (DOW) officials are supporting the designation right away. Today, Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) leaders initiated their Brilliant at the Basics proposal designed to bolster the rudiments of cybersecurity in the information and operational technology (IT/OT) environments. The framework will help guide personnel through the threat landscape by supplying individuals with the optimal tactics, techniques and procedures required to not only survive but also thrive and maintain an advantage in the digital edge. Campaign contributors will provide these best practices to those who need them through daily posts, actionable tips and practical resources, per a DOW spokesperson.

The Brilliant at the Basics initiative will last throughout the entire month of October, and each week will have a different theme: be aware, be vigilant, be secure and be connected.

During the “be aware” weeklong theme, the guidance will focus on making sure that warfighters and cybersecurity professionals can understand digital environments and identify vulnerabilities.

The “be vigilant” theme will include posts about conducting proactive security measures to enhance digital safety.

The “be secure” theme will include directives that give personnel ways to safeguard mission-critical data and systems and guarantee that specific equipment has access to specific networks.

And lastly, during the “be connected” theme, the Brilliant at the Basics crew will attempt to create and foster a culture of cybersecurity professionals who report suspicious online behavior and respond to threats.

In a press release, Kirsten Davies, DOW CIO, stated that cybersecurity begins with the basics: “This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are sharing foundational, actionable steps for our warfighters, civilian workforce, and defense industrial base partners to protect our technology ecosystem, both IT and OT. As we pursue innovative technologies and reintegrate our industrial base, we must also maintain strong cyber fundamentals that protect our people, systems, and mission. Being ‘Brilliant at the Basics’ is not just a slogan; it is a mission imperative.”

Additionally, Brilliant at the Basics will promote low- or no-cost cybersecurity support programs that are in compliance with information and operational technology best practices that DOW leaders released in July.