October isn’t just about pumpkin spiced lattes and scrambling for last-minute Halloween costumes. It’s also Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The cost of cybercrime worldwide in 2025 is estimated to be $10.5 trillion. And virtually all employees with a computer are the targets. One careless click on a credible-looking email and suddenly your company’s data has entered a house of horrors.
While the IT team technically owns cybersecurity, all employees need to feel a sense of ownership too. That’s where you come in, using your communication skills to make sure every employee knows how to protect the business from digital mishaps.
Make sure the message is memorable
Cybersecurity memos can be easy to ignore if the message isn’t as compelling as the subject matter. The challenge? People tune out generic warnings. The solution? Make cybersecurity human, relatable, and impossible to ignore.
- Provide stories, not rules. “Don’t click on suspicious links” is forgettable. “An employee accidentally paid a fake invoice for $50,000”gets attention.
- Keep it conversational. Chances are you’ll be getting input from the cybersecurity team for your comms. Your job is to translate this from Tech-ish to English. If you need a glossary to understand your message, start over.
- Make it visual. Infographics and short videos beat a long policy email any day.
- Make it personal. Cyber villains don’t just strike at work. Let employees know you’ve got their back with additional tips to protect their personal and financial information.
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. Cybersecuity isn’t a one-and-done topic. October may be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but hacking is a 12-month curse. Keep best practices top of mind by building short reminders into your ongoing communications.
The end goal? All employees, from the C-suite to the intern, should see themselves as part of the cybersecurity defense team. When people feel responsible, they act responsibly.
This October, partner with IT. Bring your storytelling skills, your eye for engagement, and maybe a meme or two. Because the best firewall isn’t just software – it’s an informed workforce that knows how to spot trouble before it clicks.
Need help developing cybersecurity awareness in your organization? The O’Keefe Group has partnered with leading companies on campaigns that engage, inform and protect personal and corporate information.
