From Awareness to Action: Cybersecurity Results Month is Here

Here’s the cold, hard truth: Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a joke. Since 2004, October has been a parade of empty platitudes about "being aware" of cybersecurity threats. But with 65% of directors expecting major cyberattacks in the next year, awareness is nothing more than a well-intentioned, but useless stat – unless you’re ready to do something about it.This October, we're flipping the script. Say goodbye to Awareness Month and hello to Cybersecurity Results Month. It's time to stop with the self-congratulatory nonsense and get serious about producing results. Here’s how you can stop talking and start doing:

1. Create a real cybersecurity culture or face the consequences

Cybersecurity is more than just a tool, team, or department. If everyone in your company isn’t living and breathing security, you’re setting yourself up for disaster. We’re talking about a culture where cyber hygiene is non-negotiable: strong passwords, encrypted data, and extreme caution with links and attachments. No more excuses — this is basic survival in the digital age.

2. Stop skimming and start simulating

Cyber exercises and simulations are not optional — they’re essential. From the front lines to the executive suite, everyone needs hands-on experience with real-world cyber threats. Stop treating these exercises like a box to check and start using them to drive behavior change and human cyber capabilities. Your organization should be practiced, prepared, and ready to tackle cyber threats relevant to their specific roles, or you're just wasting their time!

3. Benchmark your way to better security

Benchmarking isn’t just a trendy term — it’s your lifeline. Assessing your team’s cybersecurity capabilities isn’t a suggestion; it’s a requirement for survival. Identify weaknesses, set concrete goals, and allocate resources where they matter most. If you’re not benchmarking, you’re flying blind.

4. Close the cyber skills gap now

Got gaps in your cyber skills? Fix them, or get ready for the consequences. Use benchmarking data to pinpoint exactly where your team is falling short, then address these deficiencies with targeted, no-nonsense training. This isn’t about checking a box; it’s about beefing up your defenses with the right skills and knowledge. If you’re not actively closing these gaps, you’re leaving your organization wide open.

5. Prove results or face the music

Enough with the fluff. Show your C-suite and Board hard evidence of your cybersecurity effectiveness. Security isn’t just an IT issue — it’s a company-wide mandate. Everyone from the store room to the tech team to the top brass needs to be on board, and it’s your job to prove that these efforts are making a real difference. If you can’t demonstrate tangible results, you’re not just failing; you’re risking your company’s future.This October, let’s cut through the noise. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is dead; long live Cybersecurity Results Month. It’s time to turn from passive awareness to aggressive action. Your organization’s resilience isn’t a theoretical concept — it’s a concrete reality you need to fight for.Ready to make real progress? Grab our eBook, Three Steps to Ultimate Cyber Resilience, and start transforming talk into results.