What Cybersecurity Awareness Month Really Means for Small Businesses

Every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month brings a wave of reminders to update passwords and watch out for phishing emails. While this is good advice, it often raises a bigger question. 

Is our technology actually protected, or are we just hoping for the best?

Small Businesses Are Targets Too

Many small business owners assume cybercriminals solely target large corporations. In reality, small businesses are often targeted because they're seen as easier to breach, with fewer defenses in place.

For small businesses, having dependable IT Support can be the difference between an email going to spam and an actual security breach. The right provider will build protection into your daily operations, rather than treating security as an occasional project.

What Good IT Support Looks Like

Strong cybersecurity is a combination of ongoing pieces working together:

·      Monitoring for unusual activity

·      Keeping software and systems updated

·      Training staff to spot phishing attempts

·      Backing up data regularly

·      Having a plan in place if something goes wrong

Awareness Is a Starting Point, Not a Finish Line

Ongoing protection can protect your business year-round, not just during heightened cybersecurity awareness. Partnering with a provider offering reliable IT Support in Ann Arbor and Southeast Michigan (backed by 25+ years of experience!) means fast response times.

If you're not sure how your business's current setup measures up, contact us to talk about protection for your business. 

Learn more about services to protect your business in our latest article.

5 Cybersecurity Habits Every Ann Arbor Business Should Build This October

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! 

That doesn’t mean that good habits shouldn't stop when the calendar flips to November. Small changes, done consistently, make a big difference in how well a business is protected.

Here are five habits worth building into your routine this month, and keeping up all year:

1.        Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere you can.

This makes stolen passwords far less useful to an attacker. 

2.        Back up your data, and actually test the backup.

An untested backup might fail when you need it.

3.        Teach your team what phishing looks like.

Most breaches start with a click. A few minutes of staff training goes a long way.

4.        Keep software and systems updated.

Outdated software is one of the easiest entry points for attackers, and one of the easiest gaps to close.

5.        Know who to call when something goes wrong.

Having a plan and a point of contact ahead of time cuts down on confusion during a real incident.

Small Steps, Better Protection

Building healthy cybersecurity habits is easier with the right IT Support to guide you every step of the way. 

Learn more about services to protect your business in our latest article.

Invest in IT Support for Year-Round Support 

Cybersecurity and year-round protection require consistency and a provider who helps make that consistency possible.

If you're looking to strengthen your cybersecurity practices, our team has spent 25+ years providing IT Support in Ann Arbor and the surrounding Southeast Michigan area.

Contact us to talk about what the right support can look like for your business.