Countdown to CSAM: Choose your purpose for Security Awareness Month
Cyber Security Awareness Month is just around the corner, making now the perfect time to nail down the details. Whether you’re a security professional, part of an IT team, or a business leader, CSAM is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of cybersecurity across your organization.
Ideally, CSAM plans have been in development throughout all of 2024 but if not, finding the purpose of Cyber Security Awareness Month is the perfect place to start.
Why is CSAM important?
October is marked by many as Cyber Security Awareness Month. Alone, this month won’t help build a stronger security awareness program. But, if utilized properly and backed by a purpose, CSAM can be used as a launching pad for a successful program or new practices.
Having an official Security Awareness Month allows security teams to hold the increased attention of team members for 31 days. This “official” month also gives security managers a reason to ask top-level executives for more resources, the opportunity to host more events, and the ability to use more employee time. These increased resources and employee dedication can help increase security awareness and change the security culture for the rest of the year.
Why do you need a purpose?
Approaching CSAM with a clear purpose will help you create a cohesive and meaningful campaign, rather than a disjointed set of activities that has no impact on the rest of the year. Knowing your purpose keeps you focused on what matters most to your organization, whether that’s introducing new security practices, boosting awareness, or reinforcing existing programs.
Without a defined purpose, you risk creating a campaign that only lasts for October, and shows no benefits for the other 334 days of the year. Let’s review some of the purposes you can choose for next month:
Cyber Security Awareness Month Purposes
Use it as an introduction
In smaller businesses and start-ups resources are spread thin and cybersecurity is often put on the back burner. Any start-ups or smaller businesses that have yet to touch deeply on cybersecurity could use October to launch their cybersecurity program.
Otherwise, overwhelmed employees may wonder why policies and training are just now being put in their faces. Using the reminder of “Cyber Security Awareness Month” gives that reasoning and can grab their attention away from other work.
Small businesses or start-ups that want to introduce their program during CSAM could consider having a Security Program launch meeting, having an outsider expert be a guest speaker, and beginning to implement their new security policies.
Use it as your yearly check-in
Cybersecurity shouldn’t be something you only think about in October, but it’s helpful to have a yearly checkpoint to assess how well your security program is performing. You can use CSAM as a reflection period—an opportunity to evaluate what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improvement.
One of our favourite ways to implement this is to set a cybersecurity theme for each month of the year, with October as the first. In October, you review the previous year’s performance, talk with team members about their thoughts, and release the next year’s themes and events. Bonus: Host a launch party to reveal next year’s themes and award the best performers of the previous year.
Use it as a kick-off point for new programs
Some businesses have cybersecurity programs that have already been around for years. However, rapid technological advancement and changing work arrangements require constant policy and program updates.
Security managers can use Cyber Security Awareness Month as an attention-grabber. Once they hold employees’ attention with fun workshops or an in-person panel, they can announce the policy and program changes. Additionally, they can host an increased amount of office hours to help smoothly implement these new policies.
Use it to boost your security culture
Employees can have the wrong idea of security – They think it’s boring, useless, and not important. Security managers can use Cyber Security Awareness Month as a turning point for these disgruntled employees. Minds may not be completely changed, but October can serve as a starting point, with the rest of the year to work on an increased positive security culture.
Businesses with an inactive security culture can host fun events and challenges like interactive table exercises, case cracks, and storytelling panels to increase the engagement of employees in the month of October. Then, continue to host monthly events to continue to alter the conversations around security.
Use it to commemorate
If a security team has seen amazing efforts and increased engagement from their employees, October is a great time to celebrate. Reward employees who dedicated time to security, give thanks to your cybersecurity champions, and, most importantly, celebrate your hardworking security team.
A company that welcomes healthy competition, could host a month-long security competition, with an end-of-month party announcing winners, giving awards to dedicated employees, and giving the security team time to enjoy the fun!
DO NOT: Use it as your one-time security moment
While CSAM is an excellent opportunity to focus on cybersecurity, it shouldn’t be the only time your organization thinks about security. Be mindful not to treat October as the one month when you tick off the cybersecurity box and move on. Effective cybersecurity awareness requires year-round attention. Use CSAM as a launchpad for continuous education, not as the only touchpoint.
Finding your purpose for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is essential to creating a meaningful and lasting impact. Whether it’s introducing new security concepts, conducting a yearly check-in, launching new initiatives, or injecting some fun and competition into your program, approaching CSAM with purpose will ensure your efforts are aligned with your organization’s broader goals. Remember, cybersecurity is a year-round responsibility, and CSAM is just the start of a continuous journey toward a safer, more secure workplace.