October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Stay Safe Online with the Core 4

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is here, and this year’s theme — “Stay Safe Online” — reminds us that even small steps can have a big impact in protecting yourself, your family, and your organization from cyber threats.

With cyberattacks becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, it’s never been more important to take proactive measures to stay safe online. By adopting the Core 4 — four essential cybersecurity best practices — you can dramatically reduce your risk of falling victim to online threats.

Use Strong Passwords (and a Password Manager)

Weak and reused passwords are among the most common security vulnerabilities online. A strong password should be long, unique, and difficult to guess. Better yet, use a trusted password manager to generate and securely store all your passwords — no memorization required.

Strong Password Tips:

A 12-character complex password can take 62 million more attempts to crack than a simple 6-character lowercase password.
Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Turn phrases into secure passcodes, like: c0ffee@7amIsL!fe.
Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts.
Consider a trusted password manager like Keeper — it helps our team manage login credentials securely without the hassle of remembering what password was used where.

Turn On Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) adds a critical extra layer of security by requiring two or more verification steps to access an account. Even if a hacker steals your password, MFA prevents unauthorized access.

Common MFA Methods:

Text message or email verification codes
Authentication apps (like AuthPoint by WatchGuard)
Biometric verification (e.g., fingerprint, face ID)

Enabling MFA on all important accounts — especially email, banking, and cloud storage — is one of the most effective ways to protect your digital identity.

Recognize and Report Scams

Phishing emails and online scams are increasingly sophisticated and hard to spot. These scams often impersonate trusted brands or contacts to trick you into sharing personal or financial information.

How to Spot a Scam:

Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unexpected attachments
Verify the sender’s email address and look for red flags (misspellings, urgent tone, unfamiliar requests)
Report phishing attempts to your email provider or internal IT/security team

Cybersecurity awareness starts with vigilance — staying alert can prevent serious breaches.

Keep Your Software Updated

Running outdated software is like leaving your front door unlocked. Software updates patch known vulnerabilities and keep your systems running securely and efficiently.

Update Best Practices:

Enable notifications for updates whenever possible
Regularly check for updates on all devices and applications
Don’t ignore system update notifications — they are often fixing critical security flaws
Take Action Today — It’s Easier Than You Think

Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated. By adopting the Core 4, you are taking meaningful steps toward creating a safer digital environment for yourself and those around you.

Stay safe. Stay smart. Stay secure.

Need Help Securing Your Business?

Looking to improve cybersecurity at your organization? We are here to help — from setting up password managers and multi-factor authentication to conducting security assessments tailored to your organization.