Children are diving into the digital world earlier than ever, making it essential to instill good cyber habits from the start. This year, a staggering 80% of internet users under the age of 11 will use a tablet at least once a month. However, many young users explore the online world without fully understanding its risks. As technology becomes a staple in childhood, teaching kids how to safely navigate the internet is more important than ever.

Cyber safety begins with healthy cybersecurity habits. Early adoption of good habits can protect our youth from online threats like cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and identity theft. Okta’s commitment to security from the ground up is demonstrated by empowering the next generation with essential cybersecurity skills.

Cyber Kidz

Earlier this year, Okta’s Security Culture team launched its Cyber Kidz program in Sydney, Australia. The program is designed to empower children to stay safe through hands-on learning, interactive games, and real-world cybersecurity challenges. Our goal is to equip our youth with essential digital skills, fostering cybersecurity awareness and education in a fun, family-friendly environment that promotes practical cybersecurity habits across generations.

The in-person holiday event encouraged our little learners to recognize online threats, protect their personal information, and develop strong cyber habits, all while having fun! To best engage our Cyber Kidz, we tailored activities to their age groups with targeted, age-appropriate activities.

Building the Defenders of Tomorrow

Our cyber adventurers had an incredible time diving into the world of cybersecurity through hands-on activities and interactive challenges. They explored key cyber concepts with fun games like interactive hangman and a scavenger hunt, all while making new friends along the way. Creativity flowed as they built robots and circuit boards, experimented with coding games, and worked on arts and crafts.

For those ready to advance their skill set, the adventure continued with ethical hacking, cracking ciphers, and cyber sleuthing. They kicked the day off with an engaging session from the Australian Federal Police on online safety before testing their skills in an epic capture-the-flag challenge—cracking codes, crafting phishing emails, picking locks, and even attempting to socially engineer Okta employees.

The success of our program came down to one simple approach: our team took the time to step into the digital world of each participant, designing activities that genuinely engaged and educated them. Cyber safety isn’t just about the next generation — it’s a responsibility for all of us. As we equip young minds with the skills to navigate the online world safely, it's equally important for parents and caregivers to stay informed. Keeping up with the latest technologies and understanding evolving cyber threats is key to fostering a culture of security at home and beyond.

Expanding our Reach

Building on this success, we’re excited to take our cybersecurity education program global at Okta! To reach even more young minds, the program will tackle real-world cybersecurity issues such as: 

• misinformation and fake news,

• social engineering, and 

• the lasting impact of a digital footprint. 

Through interactive cyber simulations designed for different skill levels, participants will learn to critically assess online information, recognize manipulation tactics, and understand how their digital actions shape their online identity. To make learning even more immersive, we’re incorporating Amazing Race-style capture-the-flag challenges, where participants will race against time to solve puzzles, decode clues, and apply their cybersecurity knowledge in fast-paced, high-energy competitions.

By making cybersecurity education more accessible and engaging, we’re empowering the next generation of digital defenders—wherever they are in the world. If you’re interested in learning more about our global initiative or want to explore how this program can benefit your organization, contact us at securityculture@okta.com. We’d love to share more about how we can work together to create a safer digital future.