Why One Month of Cybersecurity Awareness Isn’t Enough to Keep Your Organization Safe

Have you noticed that for the past three years, CISA's Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM) topics have been eerily similar? It’s always about passwords, MFA, updating software, and spotting phishing attempts. But while the cybercriminals haunting our businesses show up each year in new, more sophisticated disguises, it’s the companies that keep wearing the same old white hat costume—relying on creaky defenses three years in a row.

Why Do We See the Same Mistakes Repeated?

Every year, the focus of CSAM revolves around the same core principles—password management, multi-factor authentication (MFA), keeping software up to date, and avoiding phishing attacks. These are obviously important, but there’s a reason they keep coming up: people are still making the same mistakes. But why?

• Human Behavior & Cognitive Bias: Even with training, cognitive biases lead people to think, I’m careful enough—I’d never fall for a phishing scam. Overconfident much? But it’s not just individuals. Organizations often think, We’ve got a firewall, we’re good. That over-reliance on tech defenses creates a false sense of security, leaving human error wide open for exploitation. Spoiler alert: cybercriminals love exploiting human error.
• Forgetting Curve: One-off security training is like cramming for a test—sure, you might remember enough to ace it today, but by next week, all that knowledge is out the window. Our brains aren’t designed to hold onto that much information all at once. Throw in a year's worth of updates, and it's no wonder people are forgetting faster than they forget where they left their keys.
• Habit Decay: You know how you commit to that New Year’s resolution to go to the gym, only to find yourself on the couch with a bag of Cheetos by February? The same thing happens with cybersecurity habits. Employees might start strong, but without continuous reinforcement, good habits turn into bad ones, and next thing you know, someone’s reusing “Password123” again.
• Cybercriminals Are Always Evolving: While we’re stuck repeating the same training, cybercriminals are moving on to the next big thing. They know the weaknesses—password reuse, weak MFA, people clicking on that “urgent” email—and they’re exploiting them with phishing emails so slick, they make used-car salesmen look like amateurs.
• Common Mistakes, Exploited Patterns: Even after training, users tend to fall back into bad habits like reusing passwords or clicking on suspicious links. And criminals are counting on it. It’s like they’ve set up a lemonade stand on the corner of Reused Password Avenue and Clickbait Street, waiting for someone to stroll by.

Why Do Annual Programs Fail?

While an annual cybersecurity awareness campaign like CSAM is a great starting point, it often falls short for a few reasons:

1. Lack of Continuous Learning: Humans are wired to forget. Studies show that without reinforcement, up to 90% of what we learn gets tossed into the mental recycling bin within weeks. A once-a-year focus on cybersecurity is like trying to learn French with just one lesson—good luck ordering croissants with that.
2. The Checklist Mentality: For some organizations, cybersecurity training is nothing more than a box to tick off. Completed CSAM? Awesome, let’s move on. But just because you’ve done the training doesn’t mean it’s sticking. Without a culture of ongoing improvement, employees finish the session, nod their heads, and then promptly forget what they’ve learned—kind of like how we all agree to "eat better" at every holiday dinner.
3. Cybersecurity Fatigue: Let’s be honest—if you’re being told the same thing over and over again, eventually you start tuning it out. Phishing? Again? I already know this stuff. That’s when cybersecurity fatigue sets in. When the material feels repetitive or disconnected from real life, it’s only a matter of time before people start mentally snoozing. To wake them up, you need fresh, interactive content that’s tailored to their specific roles.
4. One-Size-Fits-All Approaches: Everyone’s different—some employees handle sensitive financial data, others manage servers, and some are just trying to get through their email without being tricked into wiring $10,000 to “Mr. CEO.” A one-size-fits-all approach to training is like giving everyone the same birthday card. Sure, it’s nice, but wouldn’t it be better if it were actually personalized? Custom training that’s relevant, relatable, and retainable for each role keeps people engaged and makes the lessons stick.

How Can You Get People to Care?

Awareness programs often fail to resonate because they don’t connect cybersecurity risks to employees’ daily reality. So, how do you get people to care? By making cybersecurity feel personal and, dare we say it, a little fun.

1. Contextual Learning: People start to care when they realize the risk isn’t just to the company, but to them personally. Want to get their attention? Show them how a phishing attack could compromise their bank account or identity, not just the office’s wifi password. When people understand how it affects them, they’re more likely to take it seriously.
2. Relevance: Role-based training is key, because it’s targeted to diverse roles and learning styles, and aligned to key job roles and associated security threats users face in their jobs.
3. Adaptive Learning and Assessments: Who likes to sit through training they don’t really need? Adaptive courses allow individual users to test out of topics they’re already proficient in, and helps IT identify knowledge and skill gaps that should be addressed with additional training.
4. Engagement Beyond Training: Let’s face it—one-off training sessions don’t change behavior. What does? Ongoing engagement. Think quick, fun phishing simulations, bite-sized microlearning modules, and “just-in-time” reminders that pop up when someone needs them most. It’s like having a security coach in your pocket, helping you flex those cybersecurity muscles all year long.
5. Positive Reinforcement & Gamification: People love to win. So, why not turn cybersecurity into a game? Friendly competition between departments—who can avoid the most phishing scams?—can make security training a lot more fun. And don’t forget to reward those good habits with some recognition. Nobody minds a little extra praise or a prize now and then.
6. Feedback Loops & Tangible Progress: Everyone likes to know they’re making a difference, right? Show employees the tangible impact of their efforts, like phishing click rates going down and security incidents decreasing, all thanks to them. When people can see the results of their actions, they’re more likely to stick with it. After all, who doesn’t want a little validation?

How to Choose the Right Vendor for Ongoing Awareness

The right partner for your cybersecurity training program does more than offer off-the-shelf content. You need a vendor that evolves with you and stays in it for the long haul, not just during CSAM. Here’s what to look for:

1. Tailor to Your Culture: Off-the-shelf training is like getting one-size-fits-all socks—not bad, but wouldn’t it be better if they fit just right? Look for vendors who customize content to your organization’s specific needs, culture, and risks. Training should feel personal—relevant, relatable, and retainable.
2. Ongoing Partnership, Not Just a Transaction: Cybersecurity isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. You need a vendor who sticks with you, updating content to reflect the latest threats and offering regular check-ins throughout the year.
3. Use Generative AI for Personalization: Training that adjusts to your behavior is the future. Vendors who use Generative AI to personalize phishing simulations or learning modules can keep things fresh, dynamic, and right on target.
4. Behavioral Assessments & Long-Term Reporting: A good vendor doesn’t just stop at training completion—they should provide detailed reports on how behaviors are improving over time. Want to see who’s most likely to click a phishing email? Or how your team is doing compared to last year? Behavioral assessments and long-term data give you the insights you need to keep moving forward.
5. Vendor Accountability: A great vendor isn’t just delivering content—they’re your partner in security. They’ll suggest improvements, offer support, and be invested in helping you reduce risk. They’re there to make sure you’re continually adapting to new threats, not just completing the training.