STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Cybersecurity Campaign to Be Launched this Month

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) will launch its cybersecurity awareness campaign dubbed ‘Stop. Think. Connect.’ this month.

The Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA), through a number of its member groups, is partnering with the Government on the campaign, which will sensitise Jamaicans about the threat of cybercrimes, and encourage persons to develop safe practices while using the Internet.

Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Julian Robinson, informed that the Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Stop. Think. Connect. Messaging Convention, which is an international movement for cybersecurity.

The campaign aims to: encourage persons to be more vigilant about practising safe online habits; work to ensure that Internet safety and security is perceived as a shared responsibility at home, in the workplace, and throughout communities; and strive to transform the way the public and private sectors and Government collaborate to make cybersecurity a reality.

Mr. Robinson informed that the website stopthinkconnect.org.jm is up and will be made live before the end of the week.

The website, customised to fit the Jamaican market, will include safety tips and resources that people can utilise at home, work or wherever they use the Internet.

As part of the initiative, brochures, posters, audiovisual materials and awareness tip sheets will be placed in schools, banks, as well as other public spaces.

Mr. Robinson told JIS News that the campaign is part of a four-pronged strategy that the Government is undertaking to protect Jamaica’s online space.

Other measures include the technical strategy, which is the training of government officers in cybersecurity; legal strategy, which involves the passing of cybersecurity legislation; and capacity building to entail the hiring and training of key cybersecurity personnel.

Cybersecurity task force representative from the JBA, Lloyd Parchment, who also addressed the JIS Think Tank, noted that the partnership with the Government will improve the effectiveness of the cybersecurity message.

“Individually, member organisations (of the JBA) cannot tackle this (cyber- security awareness)  by themselves, so we sought to come together and join with the Government to sensitise the nation…as the greatest defence against this is public education.”

JBA member partners involved in the cybersecurity public education campaign include National Commercial Bank (NCB), Sagicor Bank, Scotiabank, First Global Bank and CIBC FirstCaribbean.

These entities will collectively finance advertising for print and television. Key messages will include strengthening passwords and protecting sensitive information in a public Wi-Fi space, among others.