Cyber Security Awareness Month

October marks Cyber Security Awareness Month, a time when organisations across the world take a closer look at how they manage digital risks and what more they can do to protect their people, systems and data. While security should be a year-round priority, this month provides a useful reminder to pause and make sure the fundamentals are in good shape.

For many businesses, October also serves as a natural point in the year to review what has changed: new tools, new team members, new threats and ensure defences have kept pace.

Why This Month Matters

Cyber threats continue to grow in both volume and sophistication, but most successful attacks still stem from avoidable weaknesses: outdated software, weak passwords, unused accounts or employees caught off guard by phishing attempts. Cyber Security Awareness Month helps shine a spotlight on these risks and encourages businesses to focus on the steps that make the biggest difference.

It’s not about panic or worst-case scenarios. It’s about building confidence, resilience and awareness so that security becomes part of everyday operations rather than an afterthought.

A Good Time for a Digital Health Check

This month is an ideal opportunity for businesses to carry out a quick internal review, making sure the basics are working as they should. Useful areas to revisit include:

• Software and system updates that may have been delayed
• User permissions that might need adjusting or removing
• Backup routines and recovery tests
• Monitoring tools and alert thresholds

These routine checks often prevent the most common types of attacks from succeeding.

Putting People at the Centre of Security

Technology alone can’t carry the full weight of an organisation’s security. Employees interact with systems every day, which means their awareness plays a huge role in preventing incidents.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is a good moment to refresh internal communication around:

• Recognising phishing attempts
• Reporting suspicious activity quickly
• Handling sensitive information with care
• Using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication

Short, practical reminders often have the biggest impact — especially for teams who don’t work in IT day to day.

Strengthening Long-Term Security Culture

One of the key aims of this awareness month is helping organisations build a security-first mindset. When everyone understands the risks and knows how to play their part, security becomes a shared responsibility instead of something confined to technical teams.

Even small changes in behaviour across the business can significantly reduce risk. And by reviewing processes regularly, businesses stay ready for the challenges ahead rather than reacting to them when it’s too late.

Looking Ahead

As October comes to a close, the focus shouldn’t fade. Cybersecurity is most effective when it's woven into everyday operations, not treated as a once-a-year exercise.

Taking a few proactive steps now, reviewing policies, refreshing awareness, tightening access controls and validating your backup strategy, can make a big difference in keeping your business secure for the months ahead.