October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: small actions make a big difference
October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global campaign led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to help individuals and organisations stay safe online. First launched in 2004, the campaign reminds us that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and that simple everyday actions can help protect our information, systems and services.
The 2026 theme is “Don’t Make It Easy for Them”, encouraging us to make life harder for cybercriminals by building good digital habits and practising them consistently.
The campaign focuses on four straightforward steps that everyone can take to improve their online security:
- Use strong, unique passwords and a password manager.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
- Recognise and report scams, phishing emails and suspicious messages.
- Keep software and devices updated with the latest security patches.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, including the growing use of artificial intelligence by criminals to create convincing scams and fraudulent content, it is more important than ever that we stay informed and vigilant. The campaign highlights that cybersecurity is not about making one perfect decision, but about consistently making safer choices every day.
Don’t forget your AI training
To support our the council’s commitment to cyber security and responsible technology use, staff are reminded to complete the current MetaCompliance AI training module. The training provides practical guidance on the safe and ethical use of AI tools, helping staff understand potential risks, protect sensitive information and use emerging technologies responsibly.
By completing your training and following good cyber security practices, you can play an important role in helping to keep our organisation, colleagues and communities safe online.
For more information and resources, visit the Cybersecurity Awareness Month website and look out for further cyber security tips and updates throughout October.