--- title: "National Cyber Security Awareness Month: Are You Protected?" description: Here are some tips for businesses and people at home to consider when ensuring the protection of their valuable personal data. image: https://blog.next-it.net/hubfs/CyberSecurityBlog.jpg --- 866.388.6398 [support@next-it.net](mailto:support@next-it.net) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/nextittech/) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/nextit) - [COVID-19 RESOURCES](https://www.next-it.net/covid-19-resources/) - [GET SUPPORT](https://www.next-it.net/support-center/) [![Next I.T.](https://blog.next-it.net/hubfs/Next_IT_November2018_Theme/images/NITwhite-Logo.png)](https://www.next-it.net/) - [HOME](https://www.next-it.net/) - [SERVICES](https://next-it.net/solution-stack/) - [Managed Services](https://next-it.net/managed-i-t-services/) - [COVID-19 Resources](https://www.next-it.net/covid-19-resources/) - [Data Security](https://next-it.net/solution-stack/cyber-security/) - [Disaster Recovery](https://next-it.net/solution-stack/backup-disaster-recovery/) - [Office 365 Backup](https://next-it.net/solution-stack/cloud-services/) - [Continuity](https://next-it.net/solution-stack/cloud-services/) - [CASE STUDIES](https://next-it.net/case-studies/) - [SUPPORT CENTER](https://next-it.net/support-center/) - [EVENTS](https://next-it.net/next-it-events/) - [BLOG](https://blog.next-it.net/) - [CONTACT](https://www.next-it.net/contact/) - [Referral Program](https://www.next-it.net/referral-program/) - [Sponsorships](https://www.next-it.net/contact/sponsorships/) - [GET SUPPORT](https://www.next-it.net/support-center/) # National Cyber Security Awareness Month: Are You Protected? by [Next I.T](https://blog.next-it.net/author/next-i-t) | Oct 08, 2019 | [cybersecurity](https://blog.next-it.net/tag/cybersecurity), [business news](https://blog.next-it.net/tag/business-news) | ![CyberSecurityBlog](https://blog.next-it.net/hs-fs/hubfs/CyberSecurityBlog.jpg?width=1200&name=CyberSecurityBlog.jpg) The month of October is **National Cyber Security Awareness Month**. It is a cumulative effort between Homeland Security, industry professionals, and the people to ensure safety and security for everyone online. If you aren't [concerned about cyber security](https://blog.next-it.net/concerned-with-cyber-security), you should be. Here are some tips for businesses and people at home to consider when ensuring the protection of their valuable personal data and confidential information on the Internet: 1. **Keep your software and operating systems up to date.** This will prevent security gaps and limit system vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. 2. **Set up firewalls.** Do this to prevent hackers from gaining access to all areas of your network. 3. **Secure your Wi-Fi connections.** Make sure your wireless connections are restricted to specific users. 4. **Be prepared and back up your data.** Always make sure to back up your information in case of theft or accidental deletion. 5. **Create unique and hard-to-guess passwords.** Keeping your passwords unique and private and encrypting your information will help deter hackers from stealing your personal information. 6. **Choose an IT team that will successfully help secure your personal data and confidential information.** It’s important to find the correct IT team that you can trust to protect your data. For questions about all things cyber security-related, contact us [here](https://www.next-it.net/managed-security-solutions/). To know what to look for in a cyber security threat, check out our blog post [here](https://blog.next-it.net/top-5-cybersecurity-predictions-for-2019) and learn further how to protect yourself from online attacks. 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