Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time for businesses in Idaho Falls and throughout Eastern Idaho to review their security habits and strengthen their defenses.
Cybersecurity isn’t something businesses should think about only after an attack. With vulnerabilities now accounting for 31% of breach entry points, according to Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report, strong security fundamentals remain essential for businesses of every size.
For small and midsize businesses in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Ammon, Rigby, and surrounding Eastern Idaho communities, here are seven important steps to prioritize this October.
1. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication
Passwords alone aren’t enough.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another verification step when employees sign into email, cloud applications, financial systems, and other important accounts.
Make MFA a standard requirement for business accounts, especially those with access to sensitive information.
2. Keep Software and Devices Updated
Software updates aren’t just about new features. They often include security fixes for vulnerabilities attackers can exploit.
Regularly update:
- Computers and mobile devices
- Operating systems
- Business applications
- Network equipment
- Firewalls and other security tools
Verizon’s 2026 research identifies vulnerability exploitation as the leading initial access vector in breaches.
3. Train Employees to Spot Phishing
Your employees are an important part of your cybersecurity defenses.
Teach your team to recognize suspicious emails, text messages, unexpected login requests, fake invoices, and unusual requests for money or information.
Don’t forget mobile devices. Verizon reports that mobile-based phishing attempts have a 40% higher median successful click rate than email-based entry points in its phishing simulation data.
4. Protect and Test Your Backups
Backups can be critical when recovering from ransomware, hardware failure, or other disruptions.
Businesses should know:
- What data is being backed up
- Where backups are stored
- Who can access them
- How frequently they are updated
- Whether we can actually restore the backups.
A backup you have never tested may not be enough when you need it.
5. Review Who Has Access
Employees don’t necessarily need access to everything.
Review user accounts and permissions regularly. Remove access when employees leave and adjust permissions when their responsibilities change.
This is especially important as Eastern Idaho businesses hire new employees, open additional locations, or add new cloud applications.
6. Secure Your Business Network and Devices
Every connected device can potentially create another security concern.
Businesses should use appropriate protections for computers, servers, Wi-Fi networks, firewalls, remote access, and other connected systems.
Regular monitoring can also help identify unusual activity before a small problem becomes a larger incident.
7. Have a Plan for When Something Goes Wrong
Even strong security practices cannot eliminate every risk.
Know your business’s response if an employee clicks a malicious link, an account is compromised, or ransomware reaches your network.
Your response plan should identify:
- Who is responsible for responding
- Which systems should we isolate
- Who needs to be contacted
- How critical data will be recovered
- How employees should communicate during an incident
Preparing before an emergency gives your team a much clearer path forward.
Make October the Month You Strengthen Your Security
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder that protecting your business isn’t about implementing one security product and checking a box.
It’s about building consistent habits across your people, devices, accounts, data, and systems.
For businesses across Eastern Idaho, taking time this October to review these seven areas can help identify weaknesses before attackers find them.
Don’t wait for a cybersecurity incident to discover what needs to be fixed.
CMIT Solutions of Idaho Falls provides managed IT and cybersecurity services to help local businesses strengthen their defenses, protect their systems, and prepare for potential threats.
Ready to make cybersecurity a priority this October? Contact CMIT Solutions of Idaho Falls to discuss your business’s security needs.
