THE BONDSTEEL BULLET
November 2013
NEWSLETTER
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Jamie Bourgault, an Information Assurance Manager for the
Kosovo NEC at Camp Bondsteel, said it is everyone’s duty to help
protect the network against any possible threats.
The Army declared
October as National
Cyber Security
Awareness Month
U.S. federal
government faces an
average of 15,000
cyber attacks on its
network per day
Information security
incidents at 24 federal
agencies have
increased 650% over
the last five years
Story and Photos by Ardian Nrecaj, Public Affairs Specialist
According to the Department of
Homeland Security, the U.S. federal
government faces an average of 15,000
cyber attacks on its network per day and
information security incidents at 24 federal
agencies have increased 650% over the
last five years.
To help promote vigilance against this rising
threat, the Army declared October as
National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
THE BONDSTEEL BULLET
The Bondsteel Bullet is produced for
civilians and military personnel on
Camp Bondsteel.
Contents of this publication are not
necessarily official views of
Multinational Battle Group-East or Area
Support Team Balkans.
MNBG-E Public Affairs Officer
Maj. Wencke Tate
4th Public Affairs Detachment
Executive Editor
Capt. Randy D. Ready
Layout design/Editor
Ardian Nrecaj
Through Cyber Awareness to Better Security
Technology has helped improve our lives
and has taken a bigger role in it. We are
spending more and more time online and
in front of a computer, where most of our
work, shopping and entertainment are
being done through the internet. But there
are risks that come with this new way of
living.
Issue 8
There are many steps that we can take to
make us safer while using computers at
work or at home.
Jamie Bourgault, the Information
Assurance Manager for the Kosovo NEC,
described some steps to take and some of
the common mistakes people do while
using their computers.
Staff Writer
Ardian Nrecaj
POC for this publication is:
Ardian Nrecaj, DSN 781-3467
[email protected]
“Your information is as
secured as your password is
difficult.” – Jamie Bourgault
“Among many mistakes is having an easy
password; your information is as secured as
your password is difficult,” said Bourgault.
“Do not use the same password
everywhere, because if they can crack it
then they have cracked into everything.”
Bourgault also emphasized the importance
of having a complex password.
Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Lopez, the Kosovo
Network Enterprise Center chief, explained
that during this month they try to increase
awareness on how security impacts the
mission.
“Minimum of 15 characters, two upper and
two lowercase [letters], two [special]
characters and two numbers,” said
Bourgault. To help make it easier to
remember your password, Bourgault
recommended making it a short sentence
and substitute some letters with numbers.
“Cyber security is a team effort; we all play
a role and everything that we do in one
way or another comes back and ties into
our network and into the operational status
of what we do,” said Lopez. “Being aware
of what your role is and what you do on
day-to-day basis has a major impact on
cyber security and cyber awareness.”
“It’s also important to make sure your
wireless internet connection is secured,”
said Bourgault. “Do not make your wireless
connection visible, if nobody can see it, it is
much harder for an attacker to get on your
network.”
Continued in page 4
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Lopez,
the Kosovo Network Enterprise Center
chief, oversees the network
operations, help desk support and all
of the communications within
Kosovo’s area of operations.
THE BONDSTEEL BULLET ? Page 1