Cyber Security Awareness Month last minute activities & initiatives to use if you didn’t plan ahead

Are you a late planner looking for Cyber Security Awareness Month last-minute activities or initiatives? 2023 has flown by – it’s not uncommon for security managers to realize they haven’t planned anything special yet for CSAM.

Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash

However, Cyber Security Awareness Month shouldn’t be the only month you implement initiatives. Use this month as a kickstart point for your program for the upcoming year. Use the fact that you have your employees’ attention this month to start talking about any future initiatives you will be implementing or any new policies or procedures you’ve implemented this year that maybe people haven’t picked up on. 

Last-Minute Initiatives to add to your list

1. Share a “Weekly Watch List”

Incorporate multimedia into this month’s celebrations by sharing a “Weekly Watch List” or a “Daily Watch” every week/day of October. Point your team to insightful podcast episodes, YouTube videos, or live events that provide valuable cyber security insights. Whether it’s a discussion on the latest cyber threats or a tutorial on secure online practices, these resources can be easily consumed during breaks or commutes.

Here are some of our favourites:

• The Daily Cyber Threat Brief from Simply Cyber
• Shared Security Podcast
• Risky Business Podcast
• Smashing Security Podcast
• Click Armor’s Cyber Security Awareness Forum 

2. Virtual cyber security awareness merch

Bring the awareness campaign to the virtual realm by creating Zoom backgrounds and desktop wallpapers with cyber security tips and reminders. This simple addition is a constant visual cue, keeping cyber security at the forefront of employees’ minds during virtual meetings and work sessions.

Some examples could be a desktop background with a Cyber Security Awareness Month logo and your chosen slogan for the month. Or Zoom Backgrounds with different security tips or quotes. Imagine conversations starting after an employee notices one employee has a different tip or quote on their background. 

3. Posters & banners

Harness the power of in-office visuals by hanging posters and banners throughout your workplace or virtual spaces. Simple poster design templates are available for free on Canva – all you have to do is choose a quote or tip and insert it into the template. 

Fill your office with reminders about password security, phishing awareness, and the importance of software updates. Make posters eye-catching by adding your company colours, pictures of a mascot, or even using memes to your advantage. 

4. Movie Day

Take a light-hearted approach to cyber security awareness by hosting a movie afternoon. Consider screening cyber security-themed movies like “The Net” with Sandra Bullock, “Tron,” “The Conversation,” or the cult classic, “Hackers.” This entertaining twist is both an educational and enjoyable break for your team. 

Start the screening by giving a quick spiel about the movie and how it can relate to your organization. At the end, hand out pamphlets or send out virtual reminders to employees about the learnings from the film and what they can implement to protect your business. And don’t forget the snacks! 

5. Host a Q&A

Engage your team directly through a live panel or Q&A session featuring the stars of the show—your security team. All you’ll need for this is to book a meeting room, assign a “Host” from your security team, and prepare some questions for your team to answer. At the end, allow the audience to ask any questions about cyber security awareness. 

If a live event seems impractical, create an anonymous form for team members to submit questions and record a video with responses. This approach ensures you address any team member concerns or queries, fostering a sense of transparency and approachability.

6. Identify your security champions

If implementing initiatives organization-wide is challenging on short notice, use this month to identify your security champions. These are individuals who consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to cybersecurity best practices. 

Use this month as an excuse to bring them all together for a lunch or meeting to express gratitude and discuss ways to further promote cyber security awareness.

Remember: Make initiatives continuous

Regardless of the last-minute nature of these initiatives, the key is to ensure that the conversation doesn’t end with the conclusion of Cyber Security Awareness Month. Cybersecurity awareness should be an ongoing dialogue within the organization. Use this month to see which initiatives your employees respond best to. Do they enjoy getting messages over Slack? In-person events? Funny memes? 

Depending on your discoveries, consider implementing regular messages, training or Q&A sessions, and fun events to keep the momentum going.

Ready to implement engaging training for your team year-round? Schedule a demo to check out Click Armor’s gamified training platform.

While the ideal scenario involves meticulous planning for Cyber Security Awareness Month, the reality is that sometimes it sneaks up on us. However, with creativity, resourcefulness, and focus, security managers can still make a significant impact. By leveraging multimedia, visual aids, virtual elements, and team engagement, even last-minute initiatives can contribute to building a stronger cybersecurity culture. 

So, don’t let the lack of preparation deter you—seize the opportunity to reinforce the importance of cybersecurity within your organization. After all, cybersecurity is not just a month-long affair; it’s a continuous effort that demands attention and commitment year-round. 

Scott Wright is CEO of Click Armor, the gamified simulation platform that helps businesses avoid breaches by engaging employees to improve their proficiency in making decisions for cyber security risk and corporate compliance. He has over 20 years of cyber security coaching experience and was creator of the Honey Stick Project for Smartphones as a demonstration in measuring human vulnerabilities.