The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and, unfortunately, an uptick in cyber threats. From phishing scams that mimic festive deals to exploitation of end-of-year operational freezes, cybercriminals are particularly active during this time of year. Having navigated these challenges in my professional journey, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of a well-tailored holiday cybersecurity awareness program—one that resonates with the people it’s designed to protect. Here are some practical strategies to ensure your program stands out and delivers lasting impact.
Understanding the Holiday Threat Landscape
The holidays bring unique vulnerabilities. Increased online transactions, particularly in retail and tech sectors, attract phishing scams disguised as holiday offers. A recent Proofpoint’s State of the Phish Report revealed that 75% of organizations experienced phishing attacks in the last year, with a noticeable spike during the holiday season. “Peak freeze” periods, where system changes are restricted to maintain stability, can inadvertently limit security updates, creating a ripe environment for attackers.
Cybersecurity teams often struggle to cut through the seasonal distractions and make users vigilant. The key is to adapt your approach to your organization’s specific context and the varied roles within it. A generic one-size-fits-all strategy rarely works.
Tailor Messaging for Maximum Impact
To resonate with your audience, tailor your awareness program based on roles, individual preferences, and your organization’s unique context.
- Role-Based Messaging: Each department faces distinct cybersecurity risks. For instance:
- Accounting Teams: Target them with messaging about invoice scams and fraudulent wire transfers.
- Customer Service: Focus on social engineering tactics they’re likely to encounter.
- Executive Teams: Highlight threats like business email compromise (BEC) attacks, which the FBI estimated caused (Report) over $2.9 billion in losses in 2023.
The core message should emphasize “security as everyone’s responsibility,” while tailoring examples and action items to specific risks each group faces.
- Individualized Messaging: People engage more when they see how cybersecurity impacts them personally. Share real-life incidents from your industry to illustrate the stakes. For example:
- Educate employees on protecting their families’ online accounts, then link these practices to workplace security.
- Use relatable, seasonal scenarios like fraudulent delivery notifications or fake charity drives to drive home key points. There was a 30% surge in cyberattacks during the holiday season, according to Cyberint.
- Business Context: Your program should reflect your company’s risk landscape and goals. For example:
- Address vulnerabilities arising from peak freeze periods.
- Engage global teams with culturally relevant content.
- Educate temporary holiday hires and third-party vendors on security protocols.
Keeping Content Engaging and Fresh
In my experience, the biggest challenge in cybersecurity awareness is sustaining interest. Here’s how to keep your program dynamic:
- Timely Topics: Relate lessons to current events and recent threats.
- Diverse Media: Mix up formats with videos, infographics, emails, and interactive sessions.
- Gamification: Turn learning into friendly competitions with rewards for phishing-spotting champions or cybersecurity quiz winners.
- Humor: Lighthearted messaging can make lessons memorable without diluting their importance.
- Leadership Involvement: Messages from the CEO or other leaders underscore the program’s priority.
Tackling Phishing Head-On
Phishing attacks peak during the holidays, leveraging themes like holiday deals, shipping notifications, and charity appeals. One of the most effective ways to address this is through simulated phishing exercises. Customize these scenarios based on your organization’s history and evolving threats, ensuring they mirror real-world tactics. According to Proofpoint’s 2024 report, phishing simulations improved awareness by 46% when tailored to an organization’s specific context. Post-simulation feedback is invaluable in turning mistakes into learning opportunities.
Managing Risk During Peak Freeze
Many organizations impose operational freezes during critical holiday periods to ensure system stability. While this practice minimizes disruptions, it can also delay essential security updates. To navigate this:
- Communicate evolving risks to leadership so informed decisions can be made about mitigation or acceptance.
- Incorporate lessons from accepted risks into your awareness content.
Beyond the Holidays: Creating a Year-Round Security Culture
A successful holiday security awareness program lays the groundwork for a culture of vigilance that extends throughout the year. Carry the momentum forward by:
- Regularly updating training to reflect new threats.
- Maintaining open dialogues between security teams and other departments.
- Celebrating and rewarding ongoing engagement with cybersecurity practices.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it’s also a prime opportunity for cybercriminals. By tailoring your awareness program to your organization’s unique challenges and fostering a culture of engagement, you can empower your team to navigate this season securely. From my own experiences, I can share that the value of making cybersecurity personal, relevant, and above all, actionable. Let’s make this holiday
About the Author
Jatin Mannepalli CISSP, CCSP, is an Information Security Officer (ISO) at , with over 10 years of experience in the InfoSec field. He has led information security and risk management teams, and worked as a security consultant for major firms like McKinsey & Company. Jatin specializes in security governance, risk management, and creating customer-centric, technology-driven security strategies. His approach focuses on aligning security with organizational goals. He is a published author on DarkReading and SecureWorld, and contributes to cybersecurity by developing ISC2 exams and volunteering to raise security awareness in local communities. Jatin’s expertise and passion for holistic security management make him a prominent figure in the field, and he is known for his dedication to organizational success and client satisfaction.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jatin-mannepalli-7a7b05a5/
