Get Involved

2023 marks 20 Years of Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Help spread the word and don't forget to follow NIST on Facebook and X (@NIST and @NISTcyber) and use the Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023 hashtags #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth and #BeCyberSmart in your social media messages before and during the month.

Social Media

• Follow the National Cybersecurity Alliance on X, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn to receive the latest online safety news and resources.
• Post online safety tips and reminders about Cybersecurity Awareness Month on your social networks. Use the hashtags #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth and #BeCyberSmart on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites.

At Home

• Sign up for NCA’s newsletter to receive regular online safety news and resources.
• Print NCA resources and display them in areas where family members spend time online.
• Hold a family “tech talk.” Learn and discuss how each family member can protect their devices and information.
• Send an email to friends and family informing them that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and encourage them to visit staysafeonline.org for tips and resources.

At Work, At School, and In the Community

• Celebrate Cybersecurity Career Week (October 16-21, 2023) along with us as we inspire and promote the awareness and exploration of cybersecurity careers.
• Become a Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion, and show your organization or school’s official involvement in the month. It’s free and simple to sign up.
• Send an email to colleagues, employees, customers and/or your school and community about the month and outline how your organization will be involved. Highlight the theme and messaging. You can use information from the toolkit in the email. See the “Employee Email Template” available to all Champions.
• Host a poster/video contest for students in which participants create informative online safety resources. Display the winning entries at school or share them with your community.
• Host a local or virtual event or training for your organization or community to discuss smart computer practices and relevant cybersecurity issues. Use the PowerPoint presentation template available to all Champions. Talk to community members about best security practices for email, social media and/or online transactions.
• Hold a brown bag lunch for employees to discuss your company’s IT security and acceptable use policies to improve cybersecurity and resilience within your organization.
• Issue a company promotion related to the month such as a product discount, competition, or giveaways for customers.
• Print Cybersecurity Awareness Month resources and display them in areas where community members spend time online
• Distribute the sample press release included in your toolkit. You can publish it as traditional media alerts and releases or publish it on your website’s blog to share with your online audiences.
  Conduct a mock phishing simulation with employees. Consider providing small prizes to those who performed well or were engaged in activities.
• Distribute online safety materials and tip sheets. We have plenty of non-proprietary resources available to download and print in our library.
• At the end of the month, send employees an email highlighting your activities and successes, and recapping the best practices learned throughout the month.