Written by Michelle Wong - Marketing Specialist
It’s that time of year again, the leaves are changing color, pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu, and Halloween is approaching. October is also Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an international initiative that educates people about online safety and empowers individuals and businesses to protect their data from cybercrime.
History of Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month was launched by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in October 2004 as a dedicated month to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. October 2024 marks the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
How MSPs and IT Providers Can Observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great opportunity for MSPs and IT Providers to remind end users and clients about how they can stay safe online. It’s also a great time to audit and review your clients’ security situations and educate them on the importance of cybersecurity and a strong backup solution.
Secure Our World
The enduring theme for Cybersecurity Awareness Month is Secure Our World. This theme recognizes the importance of taking daily action to reduce risks when online and connected to devices. Below are the simple actions we should all take not only during October, but every day throughout the year to stay safe online.
Four Easy Ways to Stay Safe Online
Here are some simple tips to remind end users and clients how they can protect themselves and their data online.
Use Strong and Unique Passwords – A strong password should be long, random, unique, and include all four character types, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols. Password managers are a powerful and useful tool to help you create and maintain strong passwords for reach of your accounts.
Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – MFA refers to the separate methods of verifying one’s identity in order to access an account. This may include logging into an account with a password and then re-confirming with an authentication code. Enabling MFA offers an extra layer of protection.
Recognize & Report Phishing Scams – Learn how to stay alert for phishing attacks, which refer to the attempt to trick people into sharing valuable data or visiting malware-infected websites.
Keep Your Software Updated – Updating your software regularly ensures that you have the latest security patches, bug fixes, and updates on your devices and apps. Having outdated software may be a vulnerability that a cyber-criminal could exploit.
Bonus Tip: Have a Solid Backup Solution
One critical aspect of cybersecurity that MSPs should highlight is the importance of having a reliable backup solution. While cybersecurity efforts focus on preventing breaches, attacks such as ransomware or phishing incidents can still happen, and when they do, a strong backup system can be a lifesaver.
MSPs should use Cybersecurity Awareness Month to remind clients that a proactive cybersecurity plan must include both defensive measures and a strong data backup strategy. By having secure and frequent backups, organizations can mitigate the worst effects of an attack and bounce back faster, saving time and money.
