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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Brings Renewed Focus
As October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, David Mantlo, CEO and president of ISTT, Inc. in Bowling Green, is urging local businesses not to overlook ongoing cybersecurity risks. Mantlo emphasizes that cyberattacks can impact any company, regardless of its size.
Understanding the Threats Facing Businesses
Mantlo identifies email account compromise and unauthorized access to company networks as two of the leading dangers businesses encounter today. He warns that assuming hackers only target large enterprises is a misconception. "The notion that maybe this doesn’t apply to you or you’re too small to actually have a target on your back is a major fallacy," he stated.
Small Businesses Are Not Immune
Mantlo notes that cybercriminals often cast wide nets, targeting large numbers of businesses and individuals. Their strategy relies on a few victims engaging with their tactics. This means that small business cybersecurity is just as crucial as for larger organizations.
The Potential Impact of Cyberattacks
When hackers successfully breach a business, the aftermath can be costly and damaging. Mantlo explains that hackers may steal company information and sell it on the dark web, or even completely halt business operations. In some cases, attackers use a company’s financial information to decide how much money to demand in a ransom. "Many times if they have the ability to review that, that gives them an estimating point to begin a ransom process so they know what you might be willing to pay to avoid going out of business," he said.
Given the risk of such ransomware threats, Mantlo recommends that businesses routinely assess their vulnerabilities, keep computer systems updated, and have procedures in place to identify and address threats before they escalate.
Protecting Personal Information at Home
Cybersecurity is not just a workplace issue. Mantlo emphasizes that families should be proactive when it comes to personal information protection and online safety. He advises families to avoid saving passwords carelessly or reusing the same password across multiple accounts. "So maybe we’re going to have a conversation around as a family using a password manager so that we’re not also using the same password for Netflix that we do for a Chase Bank," Mantlo suggested.
He also encourages parents to include their children, particularly teenagers, in discussions about online safety habits.
The Role of Training and Awareness
For businesses, Mantlo advocates investing in employee cybersecurity training. These efforts not only increase workplace security but also equip employees with knowledge to share with their families and communities. Understanding what sensitive information is stored, how it can be accessed, and what steps can be taken to protect it forms the basis of both business and personal cybersecurity strategies.
Source: wnky.com.
