10 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Ideas (2025): Activities & Tips for Security Leaders

Cybersecurity Awareness Month isn’t about cramming four weeks of phishing emails and quizzes. The most effective campaigns focus on a 10-day burst of high-impact activities like smishing drills, QR challenges, and expert videos.

The goal: strengthen reporting behavior, not just tick compliance boxes.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, led nationally by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Most organizations stretch campaigns across all four weeks... but security leaders are increasingly concentrating on 1–2-week bursts to keep attention high and fatigue low.

Instead of generic cybersecurity awareness training or one-off posters, we’ve seen the best results from outcome-driven activities: omnichannel phishing simulations (email, smishing, Microsoft Teams, QR), quick microlearning, and visible leadership kickoffs. These sharpen detection skills, boost reporting rates, and link October back to your year-round cybersecurity awareness program.

Below you’ll find 10 proven Cybersecurity Awareness Month ideas - plus our Cybersecurity Awareness Month toolkit to launch branded campaigns in minutes.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit

Want to run a high-impact campaign without starting from scratch? Our 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit gives you:

• Weekly microlearning on human risk topics like AI-driven phishing and deepfakes
• Professional visuals for posters, screensavers, and intranet
• Plug-and-play comms for email, Slack, and Teams
• Real-world stories employees recognize

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10 Cybersecurity Awareness Month ideas 2025

1. Launch cybersecurity awareness posters that actually get noticed

Awareness posters are a low-lift, high-visibility way to make Cybersecurity Awareness Month tangible across your office or digital workplace. But simply plastering walls won’t cut it - rotation, branding, and relevance are what turn posters from background noise into behavior cues. (You can grab read-to-use posters from our toolkit).

Tie visuals to your campaign brand

• Align design to the specific themes you're covering for credibility - these could be the threats your organization is actually facing right now.
• Use consistent typography, colors, and taglines across posters, intranet tiles, and Teams backgrounds so employees instantly recognize the campaign.

Rotate weekly to avoid fatigue

• Engagement drops fast if the same poster sits for four weeks. Swap visuals every 7–10 days to keep attention fresh.
• Consider staging them. Example: Week 1 = phishing emails, Week 2 = multi-factor authentication, Week 3 = social engineering tactics, Week 4 = data privacy.

Make them actionable, not decorative

• Add QR codes linking directly to short security awareness training modules... or even use codes as phishing simulations to teach employees about the dangers of scanning.
• Pair posters with microlearning tiles or a cybersecurity quiz so employees see and act in one flow.

Extend beyond physical spaces

For remote and hybrid teams, repurpose posters as:

• Screensavers and Teams/Slack backgrounds
• Digital infographics on the intranet or newsletters
• Animated tiles on shared screens in high-traffic areas

2. Host a lunch-and-learn (virtual + hybrid ready)

Lunch-and-learns are a time-tested way to build a cybersecurity culture without feeling like mandatory training. They work because they blend community, food, and learning (and they’re easy to adapt for hybrid teams).

Keep sessions short and focused

• Aim for 20–30 minutes, enough to grab attention without dragging.
• Focus on one pressing threat landscape topic - such as phishing scams, malicious AI deepfakes, or multi-factor authentication adoption - so employees leave with one clear behavior to practice.

Make it interactive

• Encourage open Q&A. Many employees hesitate to ask “basic” security questions. So, normalize curiosity so your Security Team feels approachable.
• Use polls or a quick cybersecurity quiz to break up the format and reinforce recall.

Hybrid engagement tips

• For in-office sessions, provide free lunch to boost attendance.
• For remote teams, you could try sending digital coffee cards so everyone feels included.
• Record the session for those in different time zones, but keep it live where possible. The interactivity is what drives retention.

Use real stories, not just slides

• Invite a cybersecurity expert or internal champion to share a recent phishing incident, data breach, or social engineering attempt.
• Storytelling (“cyber horror stories”) sticks far longer than compliance decks, employees remember narratives.

3. Make noise on internal channels (intranet, Teams, Slack)

Cybersecurity Awareness Month only works if people see it consistently. That means leveraging internal communication channels beyond email to keep security top of mind without overwhelming employees.

Use a branded campaign identity

• Create a visual theme tied to National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
• Carry this branding across intranet banners, Microsoft Teams backgrounds, and digital signage.

Diversify formats for different attention spans

• Microlearning tiles (30–60s clips) covering things like phishing scams, multi-factor authentication, or data privacy basics.
• Infographics for quick security posture reminders.
• Cybersecurity quiz prompts as polls on Slack or Teams to spark interaction.

Leverage leadership voices

• A short executive kickoff video adds credibility.
• Provide manager comms packs with copy-paste blurbs so line managers can cascade messages to their teams.

Nudge the right behaviors

• Every channel post should include a clear call-to-action.
• Rotate weekly to keep content fresh and engaging.

4. Host a cybersecurity movie night (with a learning twist)

A movie night may not sound like a typical cybersecurity awareness training tactic, but it’s a proven way to make Cybersecurity Awareness Month fun, memorable, and team-building.

Pick engaging, security-themed films

• Classics like Hackers (1995), The Net (1995), or The Matrix (1999) highlight the cultural side of cybersecurity threats.
• For a different vibe, Tron (1982) demonstrates the chaos that malicious programs can cause.

Add a quick debrief to tie it back

• After the screening, spend 5–10 minutes linking themes to real-world security incidents.
• Example prompts:
• • The Net → password hygiene and identity theft
  • Hackers → phishing scams and insider threat actors
  • The Matrix → data privacy and the evolving threat landscape

Keep it inclusive and hybrid-friendly

• Offer a streaming option so remote employees can join.
• Make participation optional to avoid fatigue.
• Encourage informal discussion in a Slack/Teams channel - extend the conversation beyond the film.

5. Phish your employees (go beyond email)

Phishing simulations remain the backbone of cybersecurity awareness programs but Cybersecurity Awareness Month is your chance to expand beyond email and test real-world social engineering tactics.

Start with multi-channel phishing simulations

• Email phishing is still the baseline, but employees increasingly encounter threats like smishing or QR code phishing.
• First-time smishing tests often trigger ~20% click rates even in mature programs, highlighting blind spots.
• Physical prompts work too: E.ON’s “Don’t Scan” QR campaign became one of its most-read intranet posts and raised reporting awareness.

Emphasize reporting over “not failing”

• Standardize a single “Report a Phish” button across channels to reduce confusion.
• Coach immediately after clicks and celebrates reports - it’s about time-to-report, not perfection.

Gamify with tournaments and peer-generated lures

• Run an opt-in phishing tournament during October with points for timely reporting.
• Try a “Phish-a-Friend” challenge where employees submit realistic lures that the Security Team adapts into safe simulations. At Hoxhunt, we built our Phish-a-Friend  feature that allows employees to send simulations to each other to create friendly competition and make things fun.
• Keep the campaign short (10–14 days) to prevent fatigue, even when people enjoy the competition.

Tie results back to business metrics

• Track changes in reporting rates, reporting speed, and risk levels by department.
• Share results with executives to show how Cybersecurity Awareness Month improves the organization’s security posture, not just training completions.

Below you can see what simulations actually look like for users in the Hoxhunt platform.

6. Invite a speaker to tell cyber horror stories

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in security awareness training. Employees might forget numbers, but they remember a well-told story about how a phishing email or social engineering scam led to a breach.

Why stories work

• Narratives activate emotion and stick longer in memory than facts or compliance slides.
• A relatable cyber horror story makes online threats tangible, showing how easily mistakes escalate into security incidents.

Who to bring in

• External cybersecurity experts who can share high-profile case studies (phishing scams, ransomware, data breaches).
• Internal champions from your Security Team or IT department with firsthand stories about blocked phishing emails, insider risks, or near-miss social engineering tactics.
• Consider voices outside of security - finance or HR leaders who’ve seen fraud attempts can provide fresh perspective.

How to structure the session

• Keep talks to 20–30 minutes followed by Q&A.
• Use a real-world breach as a case study, then unpack what could have been prevented with MFA, a password manager, or faster reporting.
• Tie the story back to employees’ daily actions: reporting suspicious emails, not scanning rogue QR codes, and being skeptical of urgent requests.

Hybrid engagement ideas

• Record sessions for later replay in global offices.
• Clip highlights into short microlearning tiles to reinforce lessons throughout October.

7. Drive adoption of key security measures (MFA + password manager)

Changing passwords every 90 days is out of step with today’s cybersecurity best practices. A stronger play is using October to accelerate adoption of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and password managers, which directly reduce the risk from phishing scams and credential theft. A study by PCMag showed that 35% of people surveyed never change their passwords.

Run an MFA adoption challenge

• Encourage employees to enable MFA (two-factor authentication) on both corporate and personal accounts.
• Track adoption as a visible campaign metric, not just completions.
• Use nudges like “Secure your account in 60 seconds” and show employees how MFA blocks real-world phishing attempts.

Make password managers simple and personal

• Offer a company-wide license with a personal/family plan extension.
• Provide a step-by-step setup guide and a 15-minute drop-in session during Cybersecurity Awareness Month office hours.
• Position it as a convenience tool (fewer forgotten logins) as much as a security measure.

8. Create a cybersecurity-themed escape room (physical or digital)

Escape rooms are a gamified way to bring cybersecurity concepts to life during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. They transform abstract risks into puzzles employees can solve collaboratively.

Design puzzles around real-world threats

• Spotting phishing emails, QR codes, or smishing texts.
• Cracking strong password rules or demonstrating password manager use.
• Identifying secure vs. insecure Wi-Fi connections or cloud storage practices.
• Escaping only after “reporting” a suspicious message correctly.

Keep it short and accessible

• Sessions should run 20–25 minutes to respect employees’ time.
• Limit group sizes to 4–6 people to keep everyone engaged.
• Make participation opt-in - forced fun can create fatigue.

Go hybrid with virtual rooms

• Use online puzzle platforms for distributed teams.
• Incorporate “choose your own adventure” storylines featuring cyber horror stories like data breaches or insider threats.
• Pair digital escape rooms with cybersecurity quiz elements for extra reinforcement.

Reinforce behavior with coaching

• Debrief each group on what the puzzles represented in the real threat landscape.
• Connect back to your Security Team’s reporting workflow.

9. Introduce cybersecurity office hours

Many employees hesitate to engage with the Security Team until it’s too late. Office hours create a recurring, judgment-free space where staff can ask questions and get guidance during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Why office hours work

• Normalize “asking early” about phishing scams, suspicious links, or MFA issues.
• Reduce risky workarounds like shadow IT by offering trusted alternatives.
• Show the IT department as a partner, not a gatekeeper.

How to set them up

• Dedicate 30 minutes each week during October.
• Offer both in-person and virtual slots to include hybrid teams.
• Promote them on intranet, Teams, and email to maximize visibility.

What to cover

• Walkthroughs of the “Report a Phish” button or phishing simulation results.
• Quick help with password manager installs or multi-factor authentication enrollment.
• Live demos of recent cybersecurity threats - like voice phishing or malicious AI deepfakes - and how employees can spot them.

Keep the culture going year-round

• Extend monthly office hours beyond October as part of your ongoing cybersecurity awareness program.
• Rotate themes (e.g., data privacy, secure cloud storage, or emerging threat vectors).

10. Run a cybersecurity quiz at the end of the month

A quiz is a simple yet powerful way to reinforce security awareness training and celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Done right, it turns learning into a game employees actually want to play.

Keep it competitive (but fun)

• Use a leaderboard with small prizes or digital badges.
• Offer team challenges where departments compete on phishing detection or password hygiene.
• Keep rounds short: 10–15 questions max.

Cover the right topics

• Spotting phishing emails and smishing messages.
• Why multi-factor authentication and password managers matter.
• Recognizing social engineering tactics and malicious AI deepfakes.
• Core data privacy habits employees can apply at work and home.

Gamify for higher engagement

• Gamified cyber security training works. So, introduce gamified elements into your awareness-raising efforts to engage employees and make the learning experience something people can actually enjoy.
• Add capture-the-flag elements (solving a staged security incident).
• Give bonus points for fastest reporting rate of simulated phishing emails.
• Pair the quiz with a microlearning tile or infographic to reinforce key takeaways.

Use results to guide next steps

• Identify departments with weaker detection capabilities.
• Share quiz highlights in internal comms to close the campaign on a high note.
• Feed insights into your year-round cybersecurity awareness program.

You can see what Hoxhunt's gamification looks like via the interactive demo below.

Campaign planning & execution tips

Running Cybersecurity Awareness Month isn’t about stacking as many activities as possible - it’s about designing for impact and sustainability. Here’s how security leaders are planning smarter campaigns in 2025.

Focus on a 10-day burst, not 4 weeks straight

• Engagement decays sharply after week two.
• Concentrate phishing simulations, exec videos, and lunch-and-learns into a 10-business-day core, with lighter activities before/after.
• This avoids awareness fatigue while still honoring National Cybersecurity Awareness Month’s full calendar.

Manage fatigue with quality over quantity

• Avoid spamming every channel every day - fatigue reduces learning.
• Rotate themes week.
• Design content that’s inclusive: multilingual, accessible formats, time-zone aware.

Enable managers and internal champions

• Equip managers with ready-to-send comms packs so they can cascade key messages.
• Create a Champion program where volunteers model reporting and share stories.
• Partner early with Internal Comms so your campaign feels polished, not improvised.

Plan the handoff to Data Privacy Week

• Don’t let momentum die on November 1.
• Tease follow-up activities that connect October’s lessons to data privacy and personal online safety.
• Extend office hours or quizzes into privacy clinics to show security culture is year-round.

Whether you're running security awareness training or a security awareness month campaign as a full team or flying solo, this webinar delivers real-world-tested ideas that boost engagement, change behavior, and strengthen security culture...

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Metrics that matter (board-ready outcomes)

Running engaging activities in October is only half the job - leaders expect evidence of impact. Security awareness managers who report on the right outcomes win credibility with executives and boards.

Reporting rate & time-to-escalation

• Reporting rate shows how many employees spotted and flagged a phishing email or smish.
• Time-to-escalation reveals how quickly incidents get to the Security Team once detected.
• Together, these metrics demonstrate resilience, not just awareness.

MFA & password manager adoption

• Track the number of accounts protected by multi-factor authentication during and after the campaign.
• Measure uptake of the password manager rollout, including family plans if offered.
• These adoption metrics are clear proof of lasting behavior change.

Executive dashboard

Summarize results in one board slide:

• Activities delivered
• Key metrics (reporting rate, adoption, incidents)
• Risk reduction narrative
• Keep it outcome-driven, not activity-driven.

You can explore Hoxhunt's reporting dashboard below.

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Is it time to switch up your security awareness training?

Most awareness programs check the compliance box... but compliance isn’t culture. If your security awareness training isn’t measurably reducing human risk, it’s time to rethink the approach. Hoxhunt is built to create behavior change at scale, aligning with the threats and pressures security leaders face every day.

How Hoxhunt drives real behavior change

Most awareness training stops at knowledge checks. Hoxhunt is different: it measures how people actually behave under real threat conditions. The data shows:

• Fail rate drops from 20% to 8.7% as employees learn to recognize phishing emails and social engineering tactics.
• Miss rate halves, meaning fewer threats slip past unnoticed.
• Reporting rate jumps from 7% to over 50%, showing that employees don’t just avoid mistakes - they actively escalate incidents to the Security Team.
• Real threats reported per user increase more than 15x, proving that people take lessons from simulations and apply them against real-world attackers.

What sets Hoxhunt apart?

• High engagement, proven results: Reward-based microlearning keeps participation rates high and teaches employees to recognize and report phishing emails, smishing, and social engineering tactics.
• Role- and region-specific content: Training adapts to each employee’s role, location, and risk profile - so a developer doesn’t get the same modules as HR, and your European office isn’t stuck with U.S.-centric examples.
• Embedded in the workflow: Employees learn in the flow of work - through real phishing simulations and short coaching moment - without interrupting productivity.
• Compliance without compromise: A ready-made training library covers GDPR, HIPAA, ISO, and other regulatory requirements, while keeping the experience practical and engaging.
• Dashboards that boards understand: Drill down by department or country to identify risk hot spots, track reporting rates, and demonstrate how your security awareness training is strengthening the organization’s overall security posture.

Here's how Hoxhunt adapts and personalizes training to each employee using AI...

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Hoxhunt Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit 2025

We've created something specifically for security leaders who want to run a high-impact campaign without starting from scratch. Our 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit delivers dynamic, weekly microlearning experiences focused on today's most pressing human risk topics, including:

• Expert video shorts: Bite-sized lessons from industry leaders covering AI-driven phishing, deepfakes, and emerging social engineering tactics
• Professional visual assets: Custom-designed infographics that work as posters, screensavers, or digital shares – making your campaign look polished across all channels
• Plug-and-play communications: Pre-written messages for email, Slack, Teams, and your intranet, saving your team hours of content creation
• Real-world scenarios: Stories and examples your employees will actually recognize and relate to

Ready to make this your most effective Cybersecurity Awareness Month yet? The whole experience takes less than 15 minutes per week to deploy but feels engaging and impactful to employees.

Download the complete 2025 Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit and give your team everything they need to run a professional, engaging campaign that actually moves the needle on security awareness.

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month Ideas FAQ

What is Cybersecurity Awareness Month?

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a global campaign led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. It runs every October to promote awareness of cyber threats like phishing scams, ransomware, and social engineering tactics. For businesses, it’s a chance to strengthen security awareness training and culture in a concentrated period.

Should our campaign run the full month, or just 10 days?

Most organizations default to a month-long calendar, but research and experience show that engagement drops after two weeks. A 10-business-day burst campaign delivers stronger results by focusing attention and avoiding fatigue, while still tying into the month-long national initiative. Use the burst for high-impact activities, then keep lighter touchpoints running through October.

How do we avoid awareness fatigue?

Security leaders say quality beats quantity. Instead of spamming channels daily, rotate weekly themes (phishing emails, MFA adoption, data privacy). Keep each activity short, accessible, and inclusive - supporting multiple languages, time zones, and neurodiverse employees. Less is more when it comes to building lasting behaviors.

What are the easiest activities to launch quickly?

Start with awareness posters, a cybersecurity quiz, and lunch-and-learns. These can be deployed in days using NCA/CISA templates or Hoxhunt's Cybersecurity Awareness Month Toolkit. Phishing simulations and smishing campaigns add more impact if you already have the tools in place.

Should we include Microsoft Teams or Slack phishing?

Yes - employees encounter phishing on collaboration platforms more often than ever. A single well-placed Teams phishing simulation can reveal blind spots and raise reporting rates. Just coordinate with Internal Comms so real alerts aren’t mistaken for training.

How do we talk about malicious AI and deepfakes without causing fear?

Introduce them as emerging social engineering tactics, not apocalyptic threats. Use short video clips or lunch-and-learn demos showing how deepfakes or AI voice phishing could appear, then link directly to employee actions that mitigate risk: reporting suspicious messages, using MFA, and confirming requests through a second channel.

What should we measure to prove impact?

Skip vanity metrics like completion rates. Track:

• Reporting rate and time-to-escalation from phishing simulations
• Adoption of MFA and password managers
• Correlation with incident reduction compared to prior months
• Executive dashboard (one slide) showing how awareness improved security posture.