Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Extending Protection Beyond Your Institution

Each October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as more than a reminder for community financial institutions to patch systems or update firewalls. It’s an opportunity to strengthen trust and extend influence beyond the walls of the institution by becoming a source of education and guidance for the community.

With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to provide customers with practical steps to help safeguard themselves from fraud and cybercrime.

Why community engagement matters

For decades, financial institutions have been anchors of local trust. Sharing cybersecurity knowledge not only reinforces this trust but also helps reduce fraud losses and protects institutional reputation.

In a digital-first financial environment, education and cybersecurity awareness go hand in hand. Customers increasingly expect their financial partners to equip them with the tools to navigate risks confidently and securely.

Timely topics to share this October

• Safe holiday shopping — Remind customers to verify websites before entering payment details, avoid public Wi-Fi, and enable transaction alerts on credit and debit card purchases.
• Phishing awareness — Provide examples of common red flags, especially emails or texts posing as shipping updates or holiday charities.
• Mobile banking security — Reinforce the importance of multifactor authentication, regular device updates, and strong passcodes to keep accounts secure.

How to amplify your impact

Awareness efforts don’t need to be expensive to be effective. Quick cyber tips shared on social media, virtual Q&A sessions with customers, or collaborative events with schools and nonprofits can extend reach at minimal cost. Repetition and consistency are critical. Regular, practical reminders help messages resonate and influence lasting behavior change.

Leading by example

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a chance for financial institutions to lead by example. By equipping communities with knowledge and tools, leaders not only strengthen customer trust but also demonstrate protecting account holders is at the heart of their mission.

In the next post in this series, we’ll explore how to align cybersecurity priorities with strategic planning and budgeting for long-term resilience.

How CLA can help financial institutions with cybersecurity

At CLA, we help financial institutions align education efforts with their broader cyber resilience goals. From developing customer-facing content to designing internal employee awareness programs, we work with institutions to take a proactive approach to fraud prevention and trust building. Together, we can make Cybersecurity Awareness Month a catalyst for stronger client relationships and safer communities.