Harris County, TX October 16, 2025 — Harris County Universal Services (HCUS) hosted its inaugural Cyber Awareness Day event yesterday in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. More than 50 Harris County leaders, representatives from Commissioners Court offices, county departments, and external stakeholders gathered at the Universal Service’s Innovation Lab to learn more about the importance of safeguarding the county’s technology infrastructure and protecting sensitive data
The event opened with a keynote from HCUS Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Sindhu Menon, who emphasized the importance of a collective approach to cyber security for the County and the region. Attendees also heard from experts from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Port Houston, Sentinel One, HCUS Chief Technology Officer Girish Ramachandran, and other Universal Services leaders on everything from staying cybersafe, security operations, best practices and building a resilient cyber culture.
Cyber Awareness Day was the centerpiece of a month-long campaign and several coordinated efforts by HCUS to raise cybersecurity awareness among county employees. Throughout October, HCUS launched an online and print campaign, distributing weekly tips and resources to empower every department and individual to play a role in protecting the county systems and data.
The campaign included tips on:
- Generative AI Awareness
- Creating Strong Passwords & Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication
- Updating Software
- Safe Connections: Using VPN for Sensitive Data
- Recognizing and Reporting Phishing Attempts
“Our mission is to continue safeguarding Harris County’s technology infrastructure and protecting county data and it’s a responsibility we take very seriously. We continue to advocate for a centralized approach with practices, policies, procedures and people,” said Sindhu Menon, Chief Information Officer and Executive Director of Harris County Universal Services. “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and together, we are building a safer, stronger, and more connected Harris County focused on confidentiality, integrity and resiliency.”