WHEREAS, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia has placed a priority on building a comprehensive cyber ecosystem across all levels of government to raise awareness of risks and strengthen the collective protections where necessary; and, 

WHEREAS, Virginia is the home of critical infrastructure, national defense and intelligence, space, agriculture, 6G and the ever growing digital capabilities across the Commonwealth; and, 

WHEREAS, critical infrastructure is increasingly reliant on the support of information systems and technology, which are core functions of the Commonwealth and support Virginia’s economy; and, 

WHEREAS, Virginia has emerged as a national leader in the rapidly-evolving cybersecurity industry and continues to be at the forefront of workforce development in K-12, community colleges, and universities across the state; and, 

WHEREAS, Virginia can attract more students into cyber careers by showcasing the need to inspire, engage and inform the public about the demand, opportunities, and career options available; and, 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth is building its cybersecurity workforce and promoting economic prosperity by attracting new companies, investments and creating hundreds of new jobs in the cybersecurity field; and, 

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia plays a vital role in identifying, mitigating, protecting its residents from, and responding to cybersecurity threats that may have significant impact to our individual and collective safety and privacy; and, 

WHEREAS, cybersecurity education and awareness is crucial for every Virginian and vital to the daily operations of small businesses, financial institutions, schools, government agencies, corporations and residents who connect to internet services; and, 

WHEREAS, Virginia is committed to empowering future generations of cybersecurity professionals by promoting and advocating for educational programs, and internships, in the Commonwealth and beyond; and, 

WHEREAS, the month of October is recognized nationally as Cybersecurity Awareness Month to raise the profile of the industry as a career of choice and share the importance of cyber protections; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize October 2022 as CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.