October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For many of us who’ve worked in this field for years, it can feel a little anticlimactic. You might even feel tempted to be cynical. And honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. After all, cybercrime isn’t slowing down.
According to the FBI, cybercrime losses in 2024 topped $18 billion USD across nearly 900,000 reported incidents — a 33% increase from the year before. And beyond the numbers, we all hear the personal stories: friends, family, or neighbors losing their savings, falling behind on rent, or having their lives upended by a scam.
When you’re working hard to make a difference, it can be disheartening to feel like the tide is only rising.
But here’s the truth: staying optimistic is difficult, but necessary. We owe it to ourselves, and to our communities, to try. This month is an opportunity. A chance to let go of the frustrations of the past year and recommit to what brought us into this work in the first place.
As cybersecurity professionals, we carry something valuable: our experience, expertise, and perspective. It’s a gift. And October is our reminder to share it loudly, clearly, and collectively.. in ways that can’t be ignored.
Here are three ways to raise the volume this month:
We all belong to communities: trivia night at the pub, Sunday services, youth soccer on the weekends. Use those spaces to start the conversation. Share stories. Explain what you do. Offer practical advice on how people can stay safer online. Most people don’t have the knowledge you do, and even small tips can make a big difference in someone’s life.
Whatever you’ve been doing at work to spread awareness, give it a new twist this month. Creativity makes the message stick. Years ago, we built a physical escape room at the office to teach cybersecurity concepts, and people still talk about it today. Don’t be afraid to try something bold, unexpected, and memorable.
Too often we hear that victims of scams are “dumb” or “should’ve known better.” Let’s end that. Victims are victims, full stop. Cybercrime can target anyone regardless of intellect, technical skill, or background. By breaking the stigma, we encourage people to come forward faster, admit mistakes sooner, and prevent small incidents from becoming full-blown disasters. Our words matter. Let’s choose them carefully.
Whatever actions you take this October, remember this: your work matters, and your voice has power. There are more of us than there are of our adversaries. When we speak together with empathy, with creativity, and with conviction, we can make a lasting difference in people’s lives and in the security of our digital world.
To help you take that next step, we’ve built a free, ready-to-launch 4-week campaign designed to educate employees, strengthen security culture, and reduce risk across your organization.