{"id":197355,"date":"2026-10-09T04:00:40","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T09:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/idahofalls-id-1207\/?p=197355"},"modified":"2026-09-25T03:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T08:13:17","slug":"cybersecurity-month-eastern-idaho-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmitsolutions.com\/idahofalls-id-1207\/blog\/cybersecurity-month-eastern-idaho-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity Month: 7 Things Every Eastern Idaho Business Should Be Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

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.<\/b><\/p>\n

Cybersecurity isn’t something businesses should think about only after an attack. <\/span>With vulnerabilities now accounting for <\/span>31% of breach entry points<\/b>, according to Verizon’s 2026 Data Breach Investigations Report, strong security fundamentals remain essential for businesses of every size.<\/span><\/p>\n

For small and midsize businesses in <\/span>Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Ammon, Rigby, and surrounding Eastern Idaho communities<\/b>, here are seven important steps to prioritize this October.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

1. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication<\/b><\/h3>\n

Passwords alone aren’t enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another verification step when employees sign into email, cloud applications, financial systems, and other important accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make MFA a standard requirement for business accounts, especially those with access to sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Keep Software and Devices Updated<\/b><\/h3>\n

Software updates aren’t just about new features. They often include security fixes for vulnerabilities attackers can exploit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regularly update:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Computers and mobile devices<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Operating systems<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Business applications<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Network equipment<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Firewalls and other security tools<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Verizon’s 2026 research identifies vulnerability exploitation as the leading initial access vector in breaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Train Employees to Spot Phishing<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Your employees are an important part of your cybersecurity defenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Teach your team to recognize suspicious emails, text messages, unexpected login requests, fake invoices, and unusual requests for money or information.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Don’t forget mobile devices. Verizon reports that mobile-based phishing attempts have a <\/span>40% higher median successful click rate<\/b> than email-based entry points in its phishing simulation data.<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. Protect and Test Your Backups<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Backups can be critical when recovering from ransomware, hardware failure, or other disruptions.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Businesses should know:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • What data is being backed up<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Where backups are stored<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Who can access them<\/span><\/li>\n
    • How frequently they are updated<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Whether we can actually restore the backups.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      A backup you have never tested may not be enough when you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n

      5. Review Who Has Access<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Employees don’t necessarily need access to everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Review user accounts and permissions regularly. Remove access when employees leave and adjust permissions when their responsibilities change.<\/span><\/p>\n

      This is especially important as Eastern Idaho businesses hire new employees, open additional locations, or add new cloud applications.<\/span><\/p>\n

      6. Secure Your Business Network and Devices<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Every connected device can potentially create another security concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Businesses should use appropriate protections for computers, servers, Wi-Fi networks, firewalls, remote access, and other connected systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Regular monitoring can also help identify unusual activity before a small problem becomes a larger incident.<\/span><\/p>\n

      7. Have a Plan for When Something Goes Wrong<\/b><\/h3>\n

      Even strong security practices cannot eliminate every risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Know your business\u2019s response if an employee clicks a malicious link, an account is compromised, or ransomware reaches your network.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Your response plan should identify:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Who is responsible for responding<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Which systems should we isolate<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Who needs to be contacted<\/span><\/li>\n
      • How critical data will be recovered<\/span><\/li>\n
      • How employees should communicate during an incident<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Preparing before an emergency gives your team a much clearer path forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \"\"<\/p>\n

        Make October the Month You Strengthen Your Security<\/b><\/h3>\n

        Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good reminder that protecting your business isn’t about implementing one security product and checking a box.<\/span><\/p>\n

        It’s about building consistent habits across your <\/span>people, devices, accounts, data, and systems<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

        For businesses across Eastern Idaho, taking time this October to review these seven areas can help identify weaknesses before attackers find them.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Don’t wait for a cybersecurity incident to discover what needs to be fixed.<\/b><\/p>\n

        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.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Ready to make cybersecurity a priority this October? Contact CMIT Solutions of Idaho Falls to discuss your business’s security needs.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time for businesses in Idaho Falls…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1025,"featured_media":197359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[71,69,56,70,58],"class_list":["post-197355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-it","tag-business-cybersecurity-idaho-falls","tag-cybersecurity-awareness-month-idaho","tag-cybersecurity-for-small-businesses","tag-eastern-idaho-it-security","tag-idaho-falls-cybersecurity"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t