10.14.2025 Laurel Laluk
Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes
As we celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM) this October, there's no better time to address one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to protect against cyber threats: keeping software up to date. It's one of the National Cybersecurity Alliance's (NCA) Core 4 action items for good reason — software updates are your first line of defense against evolving digital threats.
Let’s explore why software updates are a critical piece to cybersecurity, an update strategy your organization can employ, and how you can make updates easy for your customers.
Key Takeaways
- Software updates are critical to online security, as they patch vulnerabilities that cybercriminals actively exploit. Yet, 50% of Americans find staying secure online frustrating.
- Enable automatic updates across operating systems, browsers, and security software to remove the temptation to hit “remind me later” and stay protected effortlessly.
- Businesses have a responsibility to make cybersecurity and identity protection accessible by simplifying messaging and providing step-by-step guidance for their customers. Even our expert panelists agreed and shared their valuable insights during our Scams in America: Breaking the Cycle of Daily Fraud webinar.
- Software updates are just one piece of the Core 4 cybersecurity practices. Combine software updates with strong passwords, multifactor authentication, and scam recognition for comprehensive protection.
The Software Update Disconnect: Why This Matters Now
Here's a sobering reality: according to the recently released State of Scams in the United States of America 2025 report from the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), 77% of Americans encounter scams regularly, averaging 377 scam attempts per person per year. That's more than one potential threat every single day!
Even more concerning? As uncovered in our Identity & Cybersecurity Concerns report, while 87% of people feel secure using their internet-connected devices, 85% are concerned about their personal devices being hacked.
This confidence gap suggests that while people may feel secure, they still recognize significant risks – perhaps because they assume security is already built into their devices or they underestimate the sophistication of cyber threats.
The good news? Software updates don't have to be complicated — and helping your customers understand this can strengthen their security posture.
Why Software Updates Are Your Secret Weapon
Think of software updates like routine maintenance for your car. You wouldn't drive indefinitely without changing the oil or replacing the brakes. Similarly, outdated software creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals actively exploit.
Every software update includes critical security patches that fix weaknesses discovered since the last version. When you (or your customers) click "remind me later," you're essentially leaving the digital front door unlocked. Cybercriminals count on this behavior, specifically targeting known vulnerabilities in outdated systems.
As we've discussed in previous blogs about why software updates shouldn't be ignored and why it's time for a software update, the stakes continue to rise as threats evolve.
Making Software Updates Easy for Your Customers
As a business leader, you have a responsibility — and opportunity — to make cybersecurity accessible for your customers. Here's how you can do that for software updates:
1. Simplify the Message
Avoid technical jargon. Instead of "installing critical CVE patches," say "adding important security protections." CVE stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. Your customers don't need to understand the technical details; they need to understand the benefit: protection.
2. Provide Step-by-Step Guidance
Create simple visual guides showing how to:
- Enable automatic updates on common devices
- Check if systems are current
- Verify software and firmware versions
- Troubleshoot common update issues
For businesses supporting customers: Make automatic updates a default setting in any software or platform you provide. Educate customers on why this matters and how to verify updates are enabled.
Consider hosting these resources on a dedicated page, similar to our interactive CAM resource hub, where businesses can access identity protection and cybersecurity educational materials, tools, and expert insights all in one place.
3. Integrate Updates into Your Product Experience
If you develop software, build update notifications that are:
- Clear: Explain what's being updated
- Convenient: Offer flexible timing options
- Frictionless: Minimize disruption to workflow
- Informative: Provide release notes in plain language
4. Lead by Example
When your organization takes cybersecurity seriously, it sets the tone for your customers. Demonstrate that updates are a priority by:
- Keeping your own systems current
- Training staff on software update protocols
- Sharing your security practices transparently
- Celebrating security wins with your community
5. The Broader Picture: Updates as Part of Comprehensive Protection
Software updates are essential, but they're just one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle. The NCA's Core 4 also includes:
- Using strong passwords and a password manager
- Enabling multifactor authentication
- Recognizing and reporting scams
For organizations seeking to provide comprehensive protection, consider how identity and cyber protection solutions can complement your existing offerings while also addressing consumers’ basic security hygiene. Tools like identity monitoring, fraud resolution services, online security and privacy tools, and scam analysis resources help fill the gaps that even the most diligent software updates can't address.
Empowered, Not Overwhelmed
Cybersecurity doesn't have to be intimidating. Small steps — such as consistently updating software — can lead to significant improvements in online safety. As businesses, we have the power to make these steps easier for the customers we serve.
By embracing the Core 4 practices and providing accessible resources, we can bridge the confidence gap revealed in the GASA report and Iris’ ICC study. Together, we can create a digital environment where protection is the default, not the exception.
Ready to strengthen your cybersecurity strategy? Request a consultation with Iris to learn how our identity and cyber protection platform and API Suite can complement your security initiatives and provide peace of mind for your customers.
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