Celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spark Your Cyber Career!

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month! As we recognize the critical importance of staying secure online, we are excited to spotlight the people, pathways, and careers that make our digital world more resilient. Whether you are just starting out, considering a career shift, or looking to inspire the next generation, now is the moment to explore the endless possibilities in cybersecurity.

Join Cybersecurity Career Week, October 19–24, 2026, and help build a more secure future. Visit nist.gov/nice/ccw to learn more now!

EXPLORE RESOURCES & TOOLS

To get started, visit the CCW website to access global and local event listings, interactive toolkits, and free career planning resources. If you are an educator, mentor, or professional guiding others, the site also offers dedicated tools, and turnkey event guides to help you host activities and inspire the next generation of cyber talent.

Credit: Shutterstock

Explore Resources and Tools

EXPLORE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES!

Discover ways to connect, learn, and celebrate throughout Cybersecurity Career Week! Browse our featured lineup of webinars, social media challenges, and panel discussions below to find the opportunities that fit your interests and schedule.

Credit: Shutterstock

• Networking Like a Leader: Building Authentic Connections That Create Opportunities (Webinar)
  Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
  
  Connect with others in this engaging and interactive session takes a fresh look at networking! Learn practical strategies for building authentic relationships, communicating with purpose, and creating meaningful connections that lead to long-term personal and professional success.
  Learn more and register here.
• NCCoE Cybersecurity Connections Event: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (In-person event)
  Thursday, October 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM ET 
  
  Join a NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) special event to celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! The NCCoE Cybersecurity Connections event is held in partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce and Montgomery County, MD and provides a dedicated time for organizations to unite and bring awareness to the critical importance of cybersecurity.
  Learn more and register here.
• Challenge: Six Day #mycyberjob Media Challenge 
  October 19-24, 2026 (All Week)
  X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and other
  Tag: @NISTCyber
  
  Take out your phones, tablets, and computers! Engage with others during this week-long Media Challenge by by sharing short videos, pictures, and stories on social media about what you love most about #mycyberjob.
• X Chat: NIST Chat #CyberCareerChat #CyberCareerWeek #MyCyberJob
  Oct. 19, 2026 |12:00-12:30 PM ET
  
  Be a part of the discussion! Join the #CyberCareerChat X chat to celebrate Cybersecurity Career Week, a campaign led by @NISTCyber to inspire and promote the exploration of cybersecurity careers.
• Breaking Into Cybersecurity: Real Stories from Recent Graduates(Webinar)
  October 20, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
  
  This webinar – held by SANS in coordination with NICE – will provide you with actionable steps to build your career, prepare you to be as marketable as possible, and set you up for success when pursuing that first job in the cybersecurity marketplace. 
  Learn more and register here.
• Helping to Chart the Course - Unlocking Student Pathways into Cybersecurity Careers (Webinar)
  October 21, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
  
  Explore interactive tools and practical career-mapping resources, discover how to align student interests and strengths with careers based on Work Roles in the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework), and learn adaptable strategies to help students build their own cybersecurity career pathways.
  Learn more and register here.
• Cyber Career Realities Revealed: Panel Across NICE Framework Work Role Categories (Webinar)
  October 22, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
  
  Find out about key skills and foundational competencies you need to excel in cybersecurity roles across the organization, and learn actionable strategies to align your personal strengths and interests with the cyber career path that fits you best.
  Learn more and register here.

Explore Community Events and Activities

Looking for Inspiration?

Visit our Past Events and Engagement Ideas pages to discover creative activities hosted by organizations across the country and find ideas you can use or adapt for your community.

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Cybersecurity Career Week is coordinated by the NICE program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology under the U.S. Department of Commerce and supported by a community of government, academic, nonprofit, and private industry stakeholders. Commercial entities, materials, and resources provided in support of Cybersecurity Career Week may be included in this email or on the nist.gov/nice/ccw website or linked websites. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by NIST.

INFORMATION AND UPDATES

Help make Cybersecurity Career Week a success! Visit our website to see what tools and resources you can use to help promote the week-long effort to your connections.

For more information, visit nist.gov/nice/ccw.