October marked the 17th year of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance launched the initiative in 2004 to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity in our personal and business lives. With more of us working from home, the issue of cybersecurity has taken on increased importance.

The theme for this year is, “Do Your Part. #BeCyber Smart.” The theme is designed to encourage individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting themselves and their businesses with an emphasis on “If you connect it, protect it.” The founders of the event believe that if everyone does their part to implement stronger security practices, raise community awareness, educate others, and train employees, all of us will be safer. 

Each week of the month was designed with a special focus, but the overarching message is that each of us plays a role in preventing cybersecurity attacks.

While it is great to see that a month has been set aside to focus on cybersecurity, the reality is that we all need to be aware of the threat every day and make sure this issue is top of mind, all the time.

Hackers are very creative people and just because you have been able to protect yourself from one type of cyberattack does not mean you are protected from all. It seems like almost every day we learn about a new way that our networks are being attacked.

Make sure you keep yourself and your employees updated about existing and emerging cyberattacks. Regularly train your employees about the various ways hackers try to get information out of them and how to recognize cyber threats.

Consider having a cybersecurity expert come in and assess just how vulnerable your operation is to an attack and then implement their suggestions to better protect yourself.

Statistics show that small businesses are one of the prime targets for cyberattacks and that those attacks are costing businesses on average $200,000.

If you have not done so already, now is the time to make high tech security a priority — not just in October but all year long. 

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Jane Clark focuses on managing the member services operation at NationaLease as vice president of member services. She works to strength member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups.