Cyber Commandments: Trick or Treat edition

With the right tricks, you can make great cyber behaviours the norm, and encourage your people to actively safeguard colleagues, clients, and communities. And, with the right treats you can make people feel good about guarding what matters most.

Previously, we shared some sage advice about what not to do when it comes to cyber comms... which is all well and good, but it begs the question: What should you do?

Disclaimer: There are some frightful Halloween themed puns scattered throughout... enjoy.

The Shining... example 

Trick: Turn nightmares into dream behaviours 

Use vivid examples that show how one careless click can unleash a nightmare, but don’t just spook people... explain what could be done to avoid similar horror stories in the future. Sharing safeguards can reassure people that threats are avoidable.  

Treat: Shine a lantern on the heroes

Reward the brave souls who act: Like those that report suspicious emails or stop scams in their tracks. Creating role models will shine a light on great behaviours... and keep the shadows at bay.

The play after tomorrow 

Trick: Gamify the ghastly 

When cybersecurity training is a ghastly chore, it’ll remain a forgotten bore. So make training enjoyable. If it feels like play, then people will stay engaged.  

Treat: Sweeten the score
Celebrate the top players, but also include micro-moment rewards during participation. Everyone who dares to play should leave with a treat. 

The Haunting of Your House 

Trick: Defend beyond the office walls 

Phantoms don’t stop at your office firewall. Show how weak personal passwords or unsafe apps at home can open the door for attackers. Your people should extend their cybersecurity habits to their personal life too, bolstering their friends and family with their knowledge and habits.   

Treat: Offer protection charms
Give people simple, shareable tools like password managers, two-factor tips, device checklists. This will make them feel safer in work and in life. 

Never a quiet place 

Trick: Keep it simple, keep it regular 

Beware of cursed jargon. Keep messages clear, short, and consistent. Cybersecurity comms shouldn't be a ‘one off’, find ways to embed reminders into the day-to-day, like safety moments or toolbox talks.  

Treat: Make repetition a positive ritual
Swap nagging for fun traditions because habits stick when rituals are playful. Create humorous cyber icebreakers or create an enticing cyber ‘brand’ that looks and feels enticing. 

IT (...and the rest) 

Trick: Unite your coven 

When IT, HR, and comms collaborate, the message is stronger. Mismatched messages just summon confusion. 

Treat: Celebrate the collective magic
Show how many breaches were banished thanks to everyone’s positive actions. Let the whole organisation celebrate their victory, reiterating how doing the right thing pays off. 

Why it matters 

Cyber villains thrive on fear, fatigue, and confusion. The trick to defending your organisation, is to make security clear, human, and constant. Then you’ll be rewarded the treat of a culture where people feel both responsible and rewarded.  

That’s how you banish the digital demons... and make cybersecurity everyone’s business, every day. 

Cyber month (October) shouldn’t be the only time you think about cybersecurity. Create a higher standard of your communications, resources, and culture by parterning with our consultancy specialists and creative studio.