With October behind us – the international month of cybersecurity awareness – it’s a good time to reflect on the importance of staying safe online. Today’s online realm is visibly flooded with risks and attacks, and with every business a potential target, building a cyber-safe culture is crucial for enterprises, from small, family-run stores to scaling tech startups. Hackers thrive on anything they can crack, and not even the biggest companies are spared. Major companies, including Yahoo, Facebook, Google, and Target, have experienced numerous data breaches that have impacted millions of users over the past few years. And while the general assumption is that small enterprises are less enticing and thus less prone to such risks, data contradicts this. Cyberattacks often target small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) because they lack the means to employ robust defenses. In fact, one in five SMBs may not survive a significant cyberattack, ultimately forced to close their doors due to financial fallout, data loss, and reputational damage.
Today is for reminding everyone of the importance of navigating online realms safely, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services emphasizes. The website sheds light on cyber risks and breaks down tactics to keep these threats at bay – as the following sections do, too. Precautions extend well beyond businesses in the world-renowned tech hub California, so wherever you operate and regardless of your niche, committing to the following means staying prepared in a digital-first world.
Firstly, Ensure Employees Realize the Magnitude of their Responsibility
Employees are the best gateways to an enterprise’s sweet database; most of the time, they’re unaware of good cybersecurity practices. Despite all the attention that password hygiene receives, studies from Forbes Advisor find that almost 8 in 10 individuals reuse passwords across more channels. 22% of Americans don’t even bother to use the numerous tools to secure their passwords, and something tells that this rate of indifference exists across more nations and age generations. From social media accounts to email and shopping accounts, these platforms rank high on cyberattack priority lists. Weak passwords are the primary reason why most cyberattacks succeed, and even if modern platforms impose various restrictions when creating accounts or accessing old ones, individual care is still essential.
Data breaches and phishing remain significant risks in 2026 as well. One of the many alarming things that should echo in entrepreneurs’ minds is that many whose accounts are breached often don’t even know how it happened. Thus, awareness begins where employees stop taking the dependability of their passwords for granted.
Have Your Software Constantly Updated
Never take software patches (aka updates) for granted – they’re your software provider’s way of enhancing your systems, often including fixes that close security vulnerabilities and protect your business accounts from cyber threats. Updates also help your devices run smoothly, which is essential when managing multiple apps, accounts, and sensitive company data. The best part? You don’t have to do it all manually – enabling automatic updates ensures your systems receive the latest security patches as soon as they’re released.
However, a pro tip is to occasionally check updates manually, especially for critical software like antivirus programs, web browsers, your operating system, and key business apps. Firmware for network-connected devices such as routers, and plugins like Java, Adobe Flash, or HTML5, should also be regularly updated. For businesses, it’s not enough for company systems to be up to date – every employee device with access to sensitive business data must stay current as well, ensuring your organization’s defenses remain strong across the board.
Use Business Password Managers
Managing passwords across multiple teams can understandably be an overwhelming security and logistical challenge for less-prepared businesses, as employees work with dozens of accounts, often unaware of just how much access – and risk – lies in their hands. From sensitive financial records to critical internal systems and external partner logins, a single weak or reused password can create vulnerabilities with consequences that send shockwaves throughout the entire organization. Employees are expected to meet related demands, all while staying productive and adhering to security policies, often under pressure that can accumulate. Businesses that stay on top of the phenomenon all have something in common: they use effective business password managers that safely store, create, and share login credentials for every member’s apps and accounts, offering admins control over staff access. It’s a centralized and encrypted locker for sensitive data, including bank card data and logins, which helps businesses ensure that every member can access only what they should.
If you’re not already using such software, make sure to find a business password manager that does more than filling in credentials and other data – one that can customize policies based on your business needs. Extra safeguards, such as phishing protection and password strength detection, enhance your cybersecurity across the board.
Spot Phishing Attempts
From fraudulent acquisitions to emptied bank accounts, the financial aftereffects of a successful phishing attempt can be irremediably impactful. And with AI as one of hackers’ best weapons, phishing is even harder to detect – APWG numbered 1,003,924 phishing attacks in this year’s first quarter only, which marks the most worrisome number since 2023. AI cyberattacks involve personalized messages that are increasingly difficult to spot by the naked, untrained eye. These attacks are essentially attempts to trick victims into believing they’re communicating with a well-intended person, whether a colleague or a high-authority member, and taking specific actions that benefit the hacker, like sharing financial or login credentials. And if you’ve ever stopped and thought for several minutes whether a weird and unexpected conversation hid something fishy, like an attempt to obtain sensitive info from you, then you know how easily it is to be deceived.
You can thwart phishing attacks by combining employee awareness with advanced tools. Services like hide-my-email aliases help users create unique emails for external communication, concealing real accounts and hindering attackers’ progress. Educate your teams on how to recognize dubious mails, attachments, and links, and report such attempts ASAP. Informed employees who work with cutting-edge tools are a recipe for success.
Endnote
Cybersecurity is non-negotiable for businesses in California and beyond – without the right safeguards in place, your business can quickly become an attacker’s target. How are you addressing this need, and are you leveling up your cybersecurity game in 2026?
