National Cyber Security Awareness Month - How Safe is your Business?

Mark Pribish - Arizona Republic:  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in promoting its National Cyber Security Awareness Month, is getting loud about the continuing threat and wave of ID theft and cyberattacks.  Just in recent days, breaches of Experian, the giant credit bureau (15 million T-Mobile customers) and Scottrade, the online brokerage (4.5 million customers) underscore that the threat level is high.

So what can you do about it? The No. 1 answer is education and awareness.

First, understand the definition of a data breach. While there are many, here is a good one: “an incident in which sensitive, protected, or confidential data has potentially been viewed, stolen, or used by an individual unauthorized to do so. Data breaches may involve payment card information, personal health information, personally identifiable information, trade secrets or intellectual property.”

Second, understand that it’s not just about big business.  The new targets are small businesses. According to the National Small Business Association, “68 percent report being a cybervictim more than once."  MORE