July 24, 2019

Dear Colleagues:

I'm pleased to inform you that the National Insider Threat Task Force, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Intelligence), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency are teaming up with the Insider Threat practitioner community to designate September 2019 as "National Insider Threat Awareness Month."

As a key Insider Threat practitioner, you are critical to the success of this national messaging campaign. Your continued support of the Counter Insider Threat mission and proactive engagement strategies are at the forefront of efforts to deter, detect, and mitigate the insider threat. We invite you to get involved in National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2019.

During National Insider Threat Awareness Month, we'll emphasize the importance of safeguarding our nation from the risks posed by insider threats and share best practices for mitigating these risks. Past compromises of national security information by insiders have made America less safe by providing sensitive information to our adversaries. These adversaries have used knowledge from insiders to change tactics to avoid detection and learn where we are most vulnerable. Coupled with incidents of senseless violence perpetrated by insiders, these actions have also highlighted the need for uniform engagement to protect critical information and our citizenry, while preserving privacy and civil liberties.

An effective awareness campaign is a key component of an Insider Threat Program and a means of promoting the recognition and reporting of potential risk indicators. National Insider Threat Awareness Month provides a multi-media communications platform for the engagement of the federal agencies, cleared industry, critical infrastructure sectors, academia, and the general public. This campaign will be most effective when deployed by key stakeholders and messaging "champions" in each area. In other words, by you, the Insider Threat practitioner.

As you know, proactive insider threat reporting can provide early warning, intervention and assistance for individuals at risk, while strengthening our national resilience. Such reporting can reduce acts of harm to self or others, prevent the loss or compromise of classified information, and minimize damage to national security.

I invite and encourage you to participate in National Insider Threat Awareness Month this September. Suggested actions and activities are outlined in the attached campaign plan. I also encourage you to reach out to the National Insider Threat Task Force, or the Center for Development of Security Excellence for additional information.

We look forward to a successful National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2019 and appreciate your support.

William R. Evanina
Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center

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