The calendar has flipped into October, so now it’s time to let the Cybersecurity Awareness Month games begin!
October marks the start of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time to drive home the importance of sound cybersecurity practices to your users. As ever, we at KnowBe4 have launched a free resource kit to help you spread the word all this month.
For 2025, we’re busting out of the arcade with retro-style assets and content themed per each of the four full weeks of October. Think of each week as a new level for your users to explore as they learn how to thwart the most treacherous cyber villains out there.
Here’s a primer:
Week/Level 1: General Cybersecurity
The most basic and prevalent cyberthreats are no excuse for your users to keep their guard down. The goal of the first week is an introductory level to a variety of common cyberthreats that continues to take a toll on organizations of all sizes.
Week/Level 2: AI Threats
Few threats have rocketed to the top of the infosec world’s worry list like AI-powered phishing emails, scams and deepfakes. The goal of the second “level” and the associated focus content is to ensure your users are well-versed in these threats both as they go about their work life and explore the internet in their down time.
Week/Level 3: Ransomware
A threat cybercriminals keep shelling out the coin for, ransomware threatens all corners of the cyberworld. Help your users navigate the third level of Cybersecurity Awareness Month with the equipment and know-how they’ll need to be ransomware-ready.
Week/Level 4: Incident Reporting
Combining all your users have learned throughout the week, the fourth and final level is all about making sure they know what to do when they see something. From reporting phishing emails to seeking help from IT, sharing when something seems not right is one of the most important steps in helping to keep our/your organization cybersecure.
New Skills Unlocked: Power Up with These Three Tips
Planning a month-long campaign can seem daunting, but you don’t have to try to reinvent the wheel. Here’s three tips to help you get started:
1. Think Like a Marketer, Deploy Like a Cyber Hero
Your goal should be changing employee behavior rather than just telling your people what you’d like them to know. Think about any major advertising campaign you’ve seen. You’ll see ads for new cars, tech and so much more across streaming platforms, social media and on TV. This varied approach helps cement the core message and influence behavior. That’s why we’ve equipped you with enough assets to deploy multiple resources per week throughout October. This helps you give your users the critical information they need while conditioning their security reflexes so they become an effective last line of defense.
2. Gather Party Members from Across Your Organization
Going multiplayer can be a key to success when it comes to cybersecurity education. Use October as an opportunity to involve people and resources from throughout your company, including HR and even Marketing, to strengthen your organization‑wide security culture. More than just your infosec team has a stake in a strong cybersecurity posture.
3. Aim for Well-Rounded User Stats
Don’t overwhelm your users with too much content at one time. At a certain point this runs the risk of them simply clicking through without learning anything. Decide what behaviors you want to shape and then prioritize the top two or three. The themes we’ve developed per week in October are a perfect starting place to focus on the threats that impact your organization the most and build off for later security awareness initiatives.
Get Ready Player One for Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Unlike some video games, there are no cheat codes to a strong security culture. Real behavior change for the better means a strategy that turns your largest attack surface— your workforce — into your biggest asset, thereby reducing human risk.
Think of this kit as a complement to a maxed-out approach to human risk management (HRM). If you’re interested in how KnowBe4 can help you take the next step in your approach to HRM, contact us!
For more resources, tips and news for you and your users throughout cybersecurity awareness month be sure to follow and mention @KnowBe4 on social media. Use the hashtag #CyberAware to stay in the loop throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month!
