October 1st marks the beginning of the 11^thannual Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Throughout the month the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies will be hosting various events throughout the country to discuss new cybersecurity issues, our cybersecurity infrastructure and our ability to prevent and mitigate national cyber threats.

NCSAM is not just about cybersecurity practices for the government but also to educate adults and children about online safety. It is our shared responsibility to ensure we are safe online whether at home, at work or at school. I encourage everyone to check out The National Cyber Security Alliance's valuable resources available at www.staysafeonline.org.

It's vital we all understand the importance of industry partnerships in the realm of cybersecurity. No one company or government entity can secure the vast online world. We must all work together to protect our national interests. This duty is why organizations such as the new National Cybersecurity Center for Excellence -operated out of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland -are so critical. This partnership pools public- and private-sector resources to protect America's ideas and innovations and educate those interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.

NCSAM is very important to us at Cisco: we pride ourselves on being innovative when it comes to cybersecurity and being a proven leader in threat prevention, mitigation and response. We are honored to be an industry partner for innovators looking to deploy the latest security solutions, which not only keep information safe, and also get access to real-time information to enable smarter decision-making.

I encourage you to participate in NCSAM events in your community to learn more about the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape. We look forward to the outcomes from this month's discussions and are excited to continue innovating with our industry and government partners.

For more information about NCSAM events go to: http://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month-2014