Schools, small businesses, and households all face the same online risk: one bad click. Research shows that 67% of breaches begin with a user clicking a deceptive link. These threats often succeed because people ignore basic habits.
Neal Juern, CEO of 7tech, noted, “We can’t afford to treat cybersecurity as someone else’s responsibility anymore”
National Internet Safety Month is the time to reset. Real protection doesn’t start with IT. It starts with your actions. The four tips below show how small choices make a real difference.
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Why National Internet Safety Month Still Matters
This awareness effort started in 2005 when the U.S. Senate named June as a time to push safer internet habits. Back then, online activity was mostly on desktops. Today, we use smart devices, apps, and cloud platforms constantly. That growth has opened up more ways for criminals to access private data.
Every time you log in, you put information at risk. This includes your personal data, your child’s school account, or your business records.
Public K-12 schools faced an estimated 325 ransomware attacks from April 2016 to November 2022. The rise of ransomware in K-12 districts proves that no one is off limits. One incident can disrupt an entire community.
CISA provides updated resources to help schools, families, and organizations follow better habits. You don’t need to be a specialist. You just need to take the right steps.
Four Steps You Can Take Today to Stay Safe Online
CISA outlines four core habits that reduce risk. They don’t require advanced tools or expensive services. They’re basic, fast, and free to use.
- Use Strong Passwords That Are Difficult to Figure Out
Weak passwords are still everywhere. Most people use combinations like “123456” or “qwerty.” Attackers look for those first. A strong password makes it harder for them to guess or crack your account.
- Use at least 16 characters to make brute-force attacks less likely. Shorter passwords are faster to crack.
- Add symbols, uppercase letters, and numbers to make patterns harder to guess. This improves password strength instantly.
- Avoid common words or reused passwords. If your password appears in one breach, it can be used on multiple accounts.
- Use a password manager to generate and store secure passwords. It also helps track reused or weak passwords that you should replace.
- Turn On Multifactor Authentication Where It Matters
MFA-protected accounts are 99% less likely to be hacked. MFA gives your account a second lock. Even if someone has your password, they can’t get in without the second step. This reduces account takeovers and limits damage.
- Use MFA on accounts like email, banking, payroll, and business portals. These hold sensitive data that’s often targeted.
- Choose authenticator apps instead of SMS for better security. Text messages can be intercepted more easily.
- Check account settings regularly to enable MFA. Many people skip this step because it adds time, but the protection is worth it.
- Use MFA on social platforms, too. If your account gets hijacked, it can be used for scams or impersonation.
- Keep Your Software and Devices Updated
Outdated software leaves you exposed. Developers issue patches to fix known problems. When you skip updates, you leave the door open.
- Turn on auto-updates for your operating system and core apps. This lets you stay protected without doing it manually.
- Restart your devices often so updates apply fully. Some patches only complete after a reboot.
- Delete unused apps that are no longer maintained. If they’re outdated, they still offer ways in.
- Review your browser extensions regularly. Some become unsupported and easy to exploit.
- Recognize and Report Phishing Attempts
Over the past year, zero-hour phishing attacks surged to more than 170,000, a 130% rise from 2023. Phishing works because it looks real.
Scammers send emails, texts, or messages pretending to be someone you trust. One click can lead to account theft or malware.
- Avoid messages that pressure you or ask for sensitive information. If you feel rushed or suspicious, it’s likely a scam.
- Inspect sender addresses closely. Many spoofed emails change just one letter in a domain.
- Don’t click on unknown links or files. If you’re unsure, verify with the actual sender through a known channel.
- Use the report function in your email platform. Microsoft and Google make it easy to flag phishing attempts.
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Why Small and Mid-Sized Organizations Should Take Internet Safety Personally
Cybercriminals often target small and mid-sized organizations. These businesses usually have limited IT staff and rely on a growing number of cloud apps, devices, and remote tools. That creates more risk.
Healthcare clinics, financial firms, manufacturers, private schools, and nonprofits all store personal data. That data attracts attackers. A single mistake, like a weak password or a missed update, can lead to data loss, failed audits, or long downtime.
Most of the risk comes from users. Common issues include:
- Weak or reused passwords
- Devices that haven’t been updated
- Clicking on phishing emails
These actions open the door for ransomware and data theft.
Simple steps still work. Multifactor authentication, regular software updates, and phishing awareness are effective in every setting, even in complex or regulated environments.
7tech helps you apply these habits the right way. We align your security practices with requirements like HIPAA, CMMC, and FTC Safeguards. Our goal is to help you meet those standards without adding extra work to your team.
How 7tech Helps You Stay Safe Online
National Internet Safety Month is a reminder that basic habits still protect your business. But building good habits is easier when you have the right support.
7tech gives small and mid-sized organizations the tools and help needed to apply these habits every day.
The table below shows how 7tech supports each of the four core internet safety actions.
| What You Should Do | How 7tech Helps |
| Use strong, unique passwords | We help your team set up and manage secure credentials through password policies and trusted password manager integrations. |
| Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA) | We enforce MFA across systems and accounts, including email, file sharing, and admin access. |
| Keep software and devices updated | We monitor patch status, apply updates, and remove unsupported tools from your network. |
| Recognize and report phishing | We provide security awareness training, phishing simulations, and reporting tools built into your email systems. |
7tech is a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). That means we apply these protections continuously, not just once a year. We help your team follow safe practices without slowing down your business.
Make Cyber Safety Part of Your Routine
Security doesn’t need to be complicated. These four habits, strong passwords, MFA, updates, and phishing awareness, are fast and proven to work. If you apply them, you reduce risk immediately.
7tech is a Managed IT Services (MSP) & Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) that helps businesses and organizations apply real-world cybersecurity that works.
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We’ve been solving problems like these for over 13 years and currently support more than 1,900 end users.
Our live U.S.-based team actively monitors systems and gives you direct access to cybersecurity experts who resolve issues before they disrupt operations.
Contact 7tech today to learn how to keep your IT environment secure.
Neal Juern, CEO of 7tech, is a seasoned cybersecurity advisor known for his strategic insights in Zero-Trust Cybersecurity. It’s his passion to help businesses protect their data. If you’re interested in doing that in-house, then check out his free Masterclass.
