October is Cybersecurity Month at Raiffeisen Tech

Cybersecurity is not just a technical requirement. It is a shared responsibility that protects people, projects and the trust placed in us. This October, as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are sharing practical tips and everyday habits that can help people recognise risks and respond confidently to cyber threats. At Raiffeisen Tech, we help build banking solutions used by millions of people worldwide. Keeping them resilient and reliable is part of what it means to be a trusted technology partner.

19 October 2026 09:00
By Michal Brandt, Agnieszka Wóciuk
Case study

Stop. Check. Verify. Report.

October is Cybersecurity Month—a great opportunity to pause and focus on something that, for most of the year, is a bit like the electrical system in a building. We all rely on it, but usually only think about it when something stops working. This year, we want to take a slightly different approach to cybersecurity: less theory, more everyday scenarios, practical questions and tips that can help us all.

Sound familiar?

Every day, we make dozens of small decisions related to security. Sometimes all it takes is a moment to pause and ask yourself:

Did this email really come from the person shown as the sender?
Should anyone ever ask me for my MFA code?
Should I open a document or follow a link I received via email, chat or a collaboration platform?
Can I paste a piece of code into a tool that uses artificial intelligence?
What should I do if I’ve just realised I clicked on something I shouldn’t have?

Cybersecurity Isn’t Just About Technology!

When we think about cybersecurity, the first things that often come to mind are firewalls, endpoints, vulnerabilities, event logs and monitoring systems. All of these are important.

But even the best technical safeguards cannot eliminate every risk, because many attacks exploit everyday interactions and decisions.

Not because we’re weak or easily manipulated. It’s simply that every day we reply to messages, approve notifications, open documents, log in to systems, and talk via Teams or over the phone. Attackers try to exploit precisely these everyday situations. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we want to focus on everyday decisions that help people recognize and respond to cyber threats.

Four Weeks… Four Themes…

Social Engineering

What do modern manipulation attempts look like, and what warning signs should we watch for?

Identity Security

Passwords, MFA, sessions and account takeovers. What can help protect our digital identities?

Incident Response

What should you do when something has already happened? Responding quickly and reporting the situation may be more important than trying to fix it yourself.

AI and Security

How is artificial intelligence changing cyber threats, and how can we use AI tools safely?

And Four Simple Habits That Make a Difference

Before You Click

Check the sender’s full email address—not just the display name.
Be cautious of unexpected attachments, unusual links and messages creating a sense of urgency.
If a request seems unusual, verify it through another trusted communication channel.

Protect Your Digital Identity

Use unique, strong passwords and consider using a password manager.
Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it is available.
Never share passwords, MFA codes or recovery codes with anyone.

If Something Goes Wrong

Stop interacting with the suspicious message, link or website.
Act quickly: change your password if necessary and contact your organisation’s IT or security team.
Don’t be embarrassed about reporting a mistake. Early reporting can significantly reduce the impact of an incident.

Use AI Responsibly

Do not enter confidential, personal or customer data into public AI tools.
Use AI services approved for professional use by your organisation and understand how they process data.
Treat AI-generated content as something to verify—not something to trust automatically.

Because AI Is Changing Cybersecurity Too

Generative AI has changed the way we work. It helps us write, analyse, code, find information and automate tasks. But these same capabilities can also be used by attackers to create more convincing phishing messages, fake images, cloned voices and realistic video content.

A familiar name, polished language or recognisable voice are no longer proof that a request is genuine. When a request involves money, credentials or sensitive information, verify it independently using a trusted contact method rather than replying directly to the message.

At the same time, AI is becoming an important tool in cybersecurity. Used responsibly, it can help teams identify threats, analyse patterns and respond more effectively. But responsible use also starts with our everyday choices: using approved AI tools, protecting sensitive data, checking AI-generated information against trusted sources and reviewing the output before we act on it.

The same simple rule applies whether AI is helping us work or being used to deceive us: pause, think critically and verify. Explore the tips below for a few practical reminders on how to use AI safely and responsibly.