Cybersecurity

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 4, 2022

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, making it a great time to review your organization's cyber crime prevention efforts and reinforce good security habits across your team.

Cyber crime is growing, and no business is too small to be a target. Forty-three percent of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses, with those in education, research, and healthcare among the most vulnerable. Ransomware attacks are estimated to occur every 11 seconds. These statistics make clear that the question is not whether an attack will occur, but when. The goal is to make sure your business is as resilient as possible when it does.

Here are foundational cybersecurity practices that every organization should have in place.

Train Your Employees. Human error is one of the leading causes of data breaches. Regular training on recognizing phishing emails, avoiding unknown links, and following safe practices for handling data is essential. Employees who know what to look for are your first line of defense.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication. Multi-factor authentication adds a second verification step beyond a password, making it dramatically harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access to accounts. It is one of the most cost-effective security controls available and should be enabled across all business applications.

Secure Your Wi-Fi. Business networks should be protected with strong encryption, a non-default router password, and a separate guest network for visitors and personal devices. Unsecured Wi-Fi is an easy entry point for attackers.

Back Up Your Data. A reliable, tested backup strategy is your safety net when things go wrong. Back up business data regularly, store at least one copy offsite or in the cloud, and periodically verify that backups can actually be restored.

Keep Systems Updated. Unpatched software and outdated operating systems are among the most exploited vulnerabilities. Keep browsers, applications, operating systems, and network equipment updated, and use reputable antivirus and anti-malware protection.

Have a Response Plan. Knowing what to do in the aftermath of a breach or incident is just as important as trying to prevent one. A basic incident response plan that covers how to contain the issue, who to notify, and how to recover data can significantly reduce the damage of an attack.

Let Cyber One Solutions Help Protect Your Business.

If you are not sure where your organization stands on any of these areas, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a cybersecurity assessment and make sure your business is as protected as possible.