Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Building a Culture of Online Safety

Every year October rolls around and so does Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Public and private organizations come together to raise awareness about staying safe online and the importance of protecting data, systems, and devices from constant cyber threats.

It all started back in 2004 when the Department of Homeland Security launched a simple idea - bring some much needed awareness to Americans when it comes to online security. Since then, federal agencies and governments have played a key role in supporting and promoting Cybersecurity Awareness Month, providing resources, guidance, and initiatives to enhance national cybersecurity resilience.

Over the years this campaign has grown into a global movement dedicated to helping people stay safe online and making them understand just how many small actions can add up to make a big difference when it comes to being secure online. Past themes of Cybersecurity Awareness Month have tackled everything from phishing to ransomware and threats to the backbone of our infrastructure. Each year's theme guides the campaign's focus and activities, shaping the central message and participation efforts for that year.

Cybersecurity awareness all comes down to understanding the risks and knowing how to act before disaster strikes. Whether you’re a business owner, an employee, or just someone who surfs the web, being aware is all about being able to spot online threats before they do any harm. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is all about helping people avoid cyber threats and getting more people into the industry.

Organizations can support this effort by providing resources, security updates, and info that encourages employees and customers to develop good habits when it comes to online security. Sharing cybersecurity information and practical cybersecurity tips can help employees and customers stay secure and informed.

Simple steps like turning on two factor auth, using a password manager, and keeping your software up to date can make a huge difference in reducing the risks. Organizations can customize their Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaigns to educate employees and communities about the risks they face. To run their own campaign effectively, organizations should gather the resources needed, such as educational materials, guidance, and support programs.

For more on how to make authentication stronger, take a look at our guide: Multi-Factor Authentication: Your Complete Guide to Enhanced Security.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) plays a huge role in Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This non profit organization works with private sector partners, government agencies, and community groups to hand out cybersecurity education and tools that are easy to use. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency runs the Cybersecurity Awareness Month campaign and provides resources for organizations.

Through initiatives like Stay Safe Online, the NCA helps people learn how to create strong passwords, avoid phishing scams and protect their personal info across all their devices. They also provide free campaign kits so any organization can run their own online security awareness campaigns throughout October.

The things that keep our country running - from hospitals and power grids to transportation and finance - are all prime targets for cyber thieves. During Awareness Month, the Department of Homeland Security and other government agencies partner with the private sector to promote the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.

By raising awareness in these sectors, we can make sure the tech keeping our nation running is protected properly. Understanding and managing risk is essential to ensure the resilience of these critical services against both physical and cyber threats.

For more information, take a look at CISA’s Critical Infrastructure Security Programs.

Every year, CISA and the NCA announce a theme for Awareness Month and encourage everyone to take action. The campaign focuses on making it easy to protect data - like using a unique password for each account, turning on two factor auth, and keeping devices up to date. This year, the campaign is also focusing on specific cybersecurity actions to help organizations and individuals improve their online safety. The tag line of Cybersecurity Awareness Month says it all - “If you connect it, protect it.”

Organizations are encouraged to engage their employees with training, virtual events, and security challenges that make online security fun and approachable. Engaging activities are essential to capture interest and boost participation during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. CISA’s “Secure Our World” initiative is a multi-year theme that breaks down four easy steps to stay secure online. Gamification methods like phishing simulations and cybersecurity bingo are all part of the fun during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

These four actions form the backbone of online security best practices.

One of the most effective ways to build long-term security is by promoting online security education in schools, colleges, and the workplace. Educators and employers can integrate online security into their training programs to help students and staff understand the importance of staying safe online. These efforts help build cybersecurity knowledge among students and staff. Cybersecurity Awareness Month puts a big focus on getting security awareness training for all users.

Universities are starting to work with government entities and cybersecurity orgs to give their students real world learning experiences, internships and certification pathways that will prepare them for a career in cybersecurity. It is important to involve the entire university community—including faculty, staff, and students—in cybersecurity awareness efforts to protect university data and online operations.

To learn more about how education intersects with authentication, check out our resource on How MSPs Can Win More Clients by Offering Frictionless Access and Security.

For Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025, the national campaign is all about highlighting the importance of collaboration across sectors. This year’s focus expands on to include connected devices - from home smart systems to IoT devices used in hospitals and universities. Technology plays a crucial role in supporting these cybersecurity initiatives and ensuring the safety of critical infrastructure.

By working with government, businesses, and non-profits, the campaign aims to get every American to understand that online security is everyone’s job. New materials, toolkits, and training modules will be coming out on both CISA.gov and StaySafeOnline.org in October. These resources will emphasize the importance of protecting sensitive information as part of maintaining security and trust.

To stay safe online, individuals should make it a daily habit to strengthen their security:

By combining the basics with a continued education on cybersecurity, folks can keep their data safe and cut down on online threats.

If you’re juggling a bunch of devices or logins, tools like Everykey make security a breeze by storing and auto-unlocking accounts using proximity based authentication. It really streamlines things.

Loads of organisations run virtual events in October to keep everyone up to date with the latest threats, new tech, and best practice techniques.
Events range from webinars led by experts to panel discussions and workshops where people can learn hands on how to spot phishing, set up MFA, and use a password manager securely. Cybersecurity Awareness Month has loads going on including educational webinars, interactive training sessions, and phishing simulations to name a few.

Hosting or attending a cybersecurity awareness event is a fantastic way to connect employees and customers on the importance of having good cybersecurity habits. Check out CISA’s Events Page to find local or online opportunities to get involved.

For National Cybersecurity Awareness Month to be a success, all sectors have to be working together – from government agencies and local councils to businesses and the public. This collaboration helps make us stronger as a nation and means that everyone understands it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the internet safe. When you engage with cybersecurity agencies on social media, you also help get the word out on what it means to stay safe online.

When businesses and individual users share resources, intelligence and expertise, it makes it heaps harder for cyber crooks to find an in. In the event of a cyber incident, organizations can respond more effectively with guidance and support from the national coordinator at CISA and other federal agencies working together to enhance resilience.

CISA’s Cybersecurity Performance Goals are a valuable tool for evaluating how ready your organisation is.

Cybersecurity isn’t rocket science, even the smallest changes can make a big difference.

Here’s some easy ways to boost your protection today:

Each step helps knock down risks and keeps your business from online threats, protecting your data and identity.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is more than just an event – it’s a call to action for everyone to take responsibility for keeping their online world safe.
By getting to know the risks, changing to safe habits, and joining in awareness events, individuals and organisations can do their bit to make the digital world a more secure place. Becoming a Cybersecurity Champion just means being part of the team that supports the initiative and runs your own events.

Whether you’re updating passwords, educating your staff or putting on your own awareness campaign, every effort counts towards a safer and more secure future.

Its a project led by CISA and the National Cybersecurity Alliance to keep everyone focused on cybersecurity and online safety every October.

Government agencies, private companies, universities and even individuals all do their bit through campaigns, events and training programs.

The 2025 theme is still “Secure Our World” which looks at connected devices, being accountable and taking simple security actions that can make a difference.

Look out for local or online events, educate your staff, or put on your own awareness campaign using resources from CISA and NCA.

Using strong passwords, turning on MFA, keeping in touch with what phishing looks like and keeping your software up to date are all good starting points.