Since its launch in 2004, October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month has only become more vital. The average breach costs companies $4.9M*. Global cybercrime costs are projected to reach $23 trillion annually by 2027.** IT practitioners skilled in security and cybersecurity are more needed than ever.

As threats scale, only 14 percent of organizations surveyed*** by the World Economic Forum say they have the people and skills needed for cybersecurity. But the entry points into cybersecurity education can have cost or time barriers. That’s why Learn with Cisco is marking Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a whole array of valuable offers.

Whether you’re brand-new to IT, have some experience, or are a current security analyst, we’ve got training you can use. With lots of free giveaways, sales, in-depth training, and quick upskilling that you can do during your lunch break, we’ve got something for everyone. If you’ve ever considered moving into cybersecurity, October is the month to do it.

Cisco U. Cybersecurity sale | October 12–16, 2026

Save 25% on select cybersecurity and security learning from the Cisco U. Store. Shop the sale starting October 12 at 8 a.m. Pacific Time through October 16, 2026, ending at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

It’s the perfect time to get the cybersecurity or security training you’ve been thinking about underway. We’ve got learning for everyone, from security novices to experts, to help you reach the next level.

Some learning to consider:

• Kick off your CCNP Security certification training with Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies | SCOR
• Get your CCNP Cybersecurity certification underway with Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals | CBROPS
• Gain the basic knowledge you need for the CCNA Cybersecurity certification with Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals | CCNACBR

Save the date: 25% Off: Cisco U. Cybersecurity Sale | LinkedIn Event

30-Day Cybersecurity Challenge

This is an exciting new program for 2026.  We’ve got new cybersecurity challenges every single day for 30 days. Each day pairs 20 to 60 minutes of learning with a hands-on or reflection task plus a stretch task if you need more challenge. You can either commit to just one day at a time or download the full plan to go at your own pace. A streak tracker helps you keep it all organized.

By the end of the month, you’ll be feeling more confident in your skills. Plus, it’s free. Take the challenge and share your progress using #30DaysofCybersecurity ✨30-Day Cybersecurity Challenge ✨

Take on one practical cybersecurity activity every day for 30 days—from foundational security hygiene to operational threat detection.

Sign up, download the challenge, and start your #30DaysofCybersecurity journey: https://t.co/gFJgpQWQan https://t.co/JFqrQvmXMu

— Learn with Cisco (@LearningatCisco) October 1, 2026

You can also chat with you peers and find support by visiting the Cisco Learning Network discussion: 🚀 Join the 30-Day Cybersecurity Challenge!

Cybersecurity Giveaway

Ten winners get their choice of an Essentials subscription or a cybersecurity or security learning bundle (Learning Path, practice exam, and an exam voucher).

The giveaway ends November 16, 2026. Enter giveaway

Snack Minute: “When AI Agents Go Rogue”

Just in time for spooky season, our latest Snack Minute episode looks at the year’s most unnerving AI security stories — and what to do about them. Kyle Winters, Senior Technical Advocate on the Learn with Cisco team, joins hosts Kareem Iskander and Matt DeNapoli to unpack real incidents in which AI agents broke out of their sandboxes, built covert channels with one another, and turned leaked credentials into a full-scale compromise.

Kyle then shows the other side of the coin with a live demo of Defense Claw, Cisco’s free, open-source tool for observing and putting guardrails around AI agents, watching it block credential-theft prompts in real time — even when the prompt insists it’s “just for testing.” He also previews Cisco AI Defense for teams that need custom policy at scale, and shares what’s coming for Cybersecurity Awareness Month at Learn with Cisco: 25% off select Cisco U. trainings from October 12–16, a 30-Day Cybersecurity Skills Challenge with daily challenges, and a learning bundle giveaway.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: When AI Agents Go Rogue | Snack Minute Cybersecurity Awareness Month Special

This year’s theme says it best: Secure the future, elevate your expertise.

What will you be doing for Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Let us know in the comments!

*https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach
**https://2021-2025.state.gov/digital-press-briefing-with-anne-neuberger-deputy-national-security-advisor-for-cyber-and-emerging-technologies/
***https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2025.pdf