Your business faces significant cybersecurity threats each day. October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and the Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign helps your team and business address cyber threats and remain safe. Consider these easy ways you and your staff can participate in this awareness month and protect your business. 
For related insurance topics, see Chapter 11 Restructuring Insurance.
Toss Anything Suspicious
Evaluate every email attachment and all the links in your email, instant messages and online posts. If the attachments or links look suspicious, delete them immediately. Cybercriminals can insert damaging information into attachments and links and then gain access to your system. For security, evaluate and then toss suspicious content.
Strengthen Passwords
Passwords for every account should be long, strong and complex. The best passwords include a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Give every account a different password that you change often, too, and never share or write down usernames or passwords.
Improve Authentication
Add a second layer of security to your password with strong authentication. It’s a one-time code that’s designed to verify that you actually own the accounts you want to access. Multi-factor authentication is available on most email, financial and social media accounts and improves security.
Clean Machines
All computers and mobile devices should be cleaned regularly to remove potentially harmful information. In addition to removing cookies and cleaning the history and cache, update security software, the operating system and the web browser on devices that connect to the internet.
Make Backup a Priority
Backing up all your data both electronically and physically should become a habit that happens frequently throughout the day. This habit prevents costly data loss that can occur because of cyber theft, malware, viruses, computer malfunctions, or human error.
Guard your Devices
Train your staff to protect their devices from theft or unauthorized access. Computers, mobile phones and tablets should never be left unattended even for a minute. Also, lock devices when they’re not in use. If you run events or camps, review Soccer - Camp Insurance for relevant coverage considerations.
Report Suspicious Activity
Sometimes, you may experience a problem with your computer, question if a link is safe or receive phishing requests. Instead of blaming the problem on technology gremlins or ignoring it, report all suspicious activities to the IT Department. The professionals can fix the issue, offer sound advice for future safety and protect your business.
Share with Care
Only share essential information online. Personal and confidential details should not be sent through online channels. Use strict privacy settings, too, as another layer of information protection.
This October, celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in several easy ways. Partner with the Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign as you protect your business from cybersecurity threats. If you need further help, talk to an agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change passwords for business accounts?
Change passwords regularly and immediately after any suspected compromise; use unique passwords per account and enable multi-factor authentication when possible.
What is the simplest way to spot a phishing email?
Look for unexpected requests, mismatched sender addresses, misspellings, urgent language, or links that don’t match the sender’s domain; when in doubt, verify with the sender through a separate channel.
How often should I back up business data?
Back up critical data frequently—ideally daily or in real time for high-value systems—and keep at least one offline or offsite copy to protect against ransomware and physical damage.
Who should employees contact if they notice suspicious activity?
Employees should report suspicious activity to the IT department or a designated security contact immediately so the issue can be investigated and contained.