Countdown to NCSAM: Event Ideas for NCSAM
One of the hardest parts of planning for October is thinking of event ideas for Cyber Security Awareness Month. The events need to be engaging but educational, well-done but under budget, and quick but impactful. Seems almost impossible, right?
Security Managers need to get creative to check all the boxes for their NCSAM-themed events. In today’s blog, we’ll be sharing our favourite ideas for NCSAM events, how to plan for them, and why they are the right choice for the month of security.
Is it too late?
Is it already too late to plan events for Cyber Security Awareness Month? It’s only a week away! It might feel like time is running out, but successful and small events can still be planned in only a few week’s time. If you are running on low resources, including time, choose simpler events that require less external help.
Remember that NCSAM is about raising awareness and building a culture of security—not perfection. So, whether you have a lot of resources or only a small team, there’s still time to create meaningful cybersecurity experiences for your organization, even if they are small. (Note: Check out our last-minute NCSAM ideas if you are running low on time or resources event ideas.)
NCSAM event ideas
Bring in the outside experts
Near the end of the year, team members might have already grown tired of the advice and reminders from their security team. To spice it up, bring in some new faces. Invite cybersecurity experts from other organizations to host talks, workshops, or panels during October.
By bringing in an outside expert, you are giving your team the opportunity to learn from a new perspective, with a different niche, and unique stories.
Schedule these sessions over the course of the month, with each week having a new guest focusing on a different topic, such as AI, personal data, and inider threats. The presence of industry experts can also foster easier communication that continues beyond October. For example, security managers can say, “Remember John Doe’s story on the stolen personal data through Instagram? Don’t be like John Doe!”
Host interactive workshops or case cracks
Engage your employees with hands-on workshops or “case crack” sessions where they actively participate in solving security scenarios. These could be phishing simulations, threat identification exercises, or even a “hack the hack” challenge where employees work together to figure out how a fictional cyberattack occurred.
Interactive learning not only makes the experience more enjoyable but also encourages participants to apply what they’ve learned. Consider dividing employees into teams for a collaborative case crack or escape room-style challenge where they need to find security flaws and propose fixes. Placing employees into teams and creating a fun environment will make this experience memorable and more likely to foster a positive security culture for the rest of the year.
Make it easy with graphics
This one is for the security managers who only have a few days left until NCSAM begins. Graphics offer a simple, low-cost, and quick way to remind team members about security awareness throughout the month of October. Security managers can create Zoom backgrounds, desktop backgrounds, and printed posters to remind everyone about the important month.
Bonus: Create a series of ten unique posters, each boasting a different cybersecurity tip and background colour. Place the posters throughout the work environment and create a “scavenger hunt challenge” for the month. Anyone that finds all ten posters and can relay the ten quotes stated on each poster to the security team, wins a prize.
Host a month-long competition
Friendly competition can motivate employees to engage more deeply with your cybersecurity awareness initiatives. Create a month-long cybersecurity challenge where individuals or teams earn points while completing cybersecurity simulations. On the Click Armor platform, teams and individuals can compete to reach the top of the leaderboard while learning about important cybersecurity topics.
Offer rewards for the teams or individuals that reach the top of the leaderboard. Rewards can be anything from gift cards to extra vacation days. Not only does this gamification encourage participation, but it also builds a sense of community and engagement around cybersecurity, transforming what can sometimes feel like a dry subject into something engaging and exciting.
Coffee with the CISO
The most important thing about Cyber Security Awareness Month is being connected to your employees to discover their perspectives on cybersecurity. Encourage conversations by offering Coffee with the CISO sessions: An opportunity for employees to sit down with the security team and ask any questions they have.
These sessions help humanize the security team and break down barriers between employees and leadership, making cybersecurity more approachable. Coffee chats can also foster a sense of ownership and accountability across all levels of the organization.
As Cybersecurity Awareness Month approaches, it’s important to remember that there’s no need to overcomplicate your events. The most important thing is to get your team involved in meaningful ways that resonate with them. Whether through expert talks, interactive challenges, or informal discussions, these event ideas can help make your NCSAM efforts both impactful and engaging.
Remember, cybersecurity is a continuous effort, and NCSAM provides the perfect opportunity to lay the foundation for a year of heightened security awareness and action.