Each October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM) provides organizations with a valuable “pause point” to refocus—and reenergize—their information security programs. While government agencies and large enterprises often lead the charge, CAM is also a unique opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to strengthen their cyber posture, raise awareness, and close gaps in their security maturity. Below are key reasons why SMBs should lean into CAM—and how to turn it into a springboard for lasting improvements.
Even with strong technical controls, attackers often exploit human behavior: phishing, weak passwords, social engineering, and insider mistakes. CAM provides a timely way to rally employees around core practices: avoiding phishing, using strong and unique passwords, adopting multi-factor authentication (MFA), and keeping software up to date.
Framing these essentials within a formal campaign helps them stand out from background noise. It shows employees that cybersecurity matters—and that leadership takes it seriously.
Most SMBs run lean, and security can slip into the background. CAM creates urgency to review existing policies and practices:
What controls are in place (password policy, patching cadence, backup regimen, account management)?
Where are the gaps (no encryption, no endpoint detection, limited logging)?
Are vendor and supply chain relationships secure?
CISA’s free toolkit (with templates, posters, banners, and slide decks) lowers the barrier to running internal campaigns, allowing SMBs to focus on substance rather than reinventing from scratch.
One common challenge is securing leadership support for investments in security. Because CAM is nationally recognized, it offers a natural opportunity to pitch training, policy updates, or resource requests to executives.
When leaders publicly endorse the campaign—through emails, town halls, or updates—it reinforces that security is a shared priority, not just an IT issue. That visibility can open the door for future budget, resources, or outside expertise. CISA encourages organizations to customize its “Cybersecurity Best Practices for Organizations” slide set and present it to leadership to secure buy-in. CISA
The true value of CAM is not just in October’s activities, but in building momentum for the rest of the year. SMBs can use the month to launch or refresh initiatives such as:
Running “spot the scam” quizzes or phishing simulations
Displaying posters, banners, or intranet slides with reminders
Recognizing employees who report suspicious activity
Recapping results and planning ongoing touchpoints
Done well, CAM becomes the kickoff for quarterly or monthly engagement that reinforces security awareness year-round.
Many SMBs serve as vendors or contractors for larger organizations. A weak security posture can become a liability across the supply chain. CAM is an opportunity to engage customers and vendors—sharing best practices, setting expectations, and aligning on secure procedures.
This not only raises your own baseline but also strengthens business relationships with partners who depend on your resilience.
With CISA providing free materials and guidance, CAM is a low-barrier, high-return initiative. Expenses are minimal—printing posters, offering small incentives, dedicating staff time—but the payoff in awareness, improved practices, and reduced risk can be substantial.
Bottom line: Cybersecurity Awareness Month gives SMBs a timely, structured chance to engage staff, review defenses, and build a culture of security. While no single month can fix every vulnerability, CAM can be the catalyst to move from reactive to proactive—and set the stage for long-term improvement.