Businesses

As a business owner, you can help build a safe and secure Internet that protects and helps grow your business—and keeps your valuable intellectual property from falling into the wrong hands.

A great place to start is by participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Month, held in October 2012. Even if you have just one hour to devote to this nationwide observance or decide to make a larger time commitment, you’ll be sure to find at least one activity from the list below that can make a big difference!

What You Can Do…
 

…in less than One Hour:

• Send an email to all business personnel announcing that October 2012 National Cyber Security Awareness Month with a link to the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tip sheet. (Download at http://staysafeonline.org/stop-think-connect/tips-and-advice.)   

…in less than One Day: 

• Use the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) cyber planner to help you chart a path to a more cyber secure business. (Find the tool at: http://www.fcc.gov/cyberplanner.)

…in less than One Week:

• Review Verizon’s “2012 Data Breach Investigations Report,” for concrete ideas on how to keep your online data safe and secure. (Available at http://www.verizonbusiness.com/resources/reports/rp_data-breach-investigations-report-2012_en_xg.pdf)

• Hold a brown bag lunch for employees to review your firm’s computer security and acceptable use policies. Distribute the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips to all personnel. (Download at http://staysafeonline.org/stop-think-connect/tips-and-advice.) 

…in less than One Month:

• Work with your IT personnel to host staff training on cybersecurity. (Download resources at www.staysafeonline.org and www.stopthinkconnect.org.)

• Create a plan in the event of a data loss. Check out the AllClearID Data Breach Incident Response Workbook for ideas. (Available at www.allclearid.com/data-breach/data-breach-response-plan)

…All Year Round: 

• Post the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tip sheet and posters in your employee lunchroom and next to all of your company computers.  Publish the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. tips in employee handbooks and company newsletters.  (Download at http://staysafeonline.org/stop-think-connect/tips-and-advice.) 

• Review and update your Internet security policies to ensure they address current threats and best practices. (The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Internet Security Essentials for Business” is a great resource, available at http://www.uschamber.com/issues/technology/internet-security-essentials-business.)