United Communications Highlights Cyber Safety Tips for Small Businesses During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – WGNS Radio

             <span class="bw-article-box-created_at">             Oct 21, 2025 at 12:19 am by </span>         <a class="bw-article-box-author" href="https://www.wgnsradio.com/users/WGNS%20News">WGNS News</a>     <br><strong data-start="409" data-end="434">Middle Tenn.</strong>&nbsp;&mdash; As October marks <strong data-start="454" data-end="496">National Cybersecurity Awareness Month</strong>, <strong data-start="498" data-end="523">United Communications</strong> is encouraging Middle Tennesseans&mdash;especially small business owners&mdash;to take proactive steps to stay safe online and build strong digital habits.<br>As a locally based internet provider, United Communications understands the vital role small businesses play in the regional economy. However, these same small businesses are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals who exploit limited IT resources and smaller security budgets.<br>In the third installment of its National Cybersecurity Awareness Month series, United Communications shared three essential practices every small business should prioritize to strengthen online defenses: <strong data-start="1162" data-end="1185">endpoint protection</strong>, <strong data-start="1187" data-end="1208">employee training</strong>, and <strong data-start="1214" data-end="1242">data backup and recovery</strong>.<br><strong data-start="1247" data-end="1296">1. Endpoint Protection: Guarding Every Device</strong><br data-start="1296" data-end="1299" /> Every device connected to a business network&mdash;whether a laptop, smartphone, or point-of-sale system&mdash;can serve as an entry point for hackers. United Communications advises small business owners to secure each endpoint using up-to-date antivirus or antimalware software, strong passwords, and timely system updates. For businesses with remote employees, endpoint monitoring tools can further reduce risk.<br><strong data-start="1704" data-end="1756">2. Employee Training: Your First Line of Defense</strong><br data-start="1756" data-end="1759" /> United Communications notes that technology is only as effective as the people who use it. Educating employees about phishing scams, password safety, and proper Wi-Fi use can dramatically lower the risk of breaches. Regular training sessions, open reporting policies, and free resources from organizations such as the National Cybersecurity Alliance can help establish a culture of cybersecurity awareness.<br><strong data-start="2169" data-end="2229">3. Data Backup and Recovery: Planning for the Unexpected</strong><br data-start="2229" data-end="2232" /> Even with preventive measures, cyberattacks and data loss can still occur. United Communications stresses the importance of regular backups&mdash;either automated through cloud services or securely stored off-site&mdash;and testing recovery procedures frequently. Business owners are encouraged to visit <strong data-start="2524" data-end="2536">CISA.gov</strong> for free tools and guidance on protecting digital assets.<br><strong data-start="2598" data-end="2646">How United BizControl Helps Small Businesses</strong><br data-start="2646" data-end="2649" /> United Communications offers <strong data-start="2678" data-end="2699">United BizControl</strong>, a smart network solution designed to help small business owners enhance cybersecurity without the need for a full IT staff. BizControl provides tools to:<br>Create <strong data-start="2867" data-end="2891">partitioned networks</strong> for operations, employees, and guests.<br>Offer <strong data-start="2941" data-end="2962">free public Wi-Fi</strong> safely while isolating sensitive business data.<br><strong data-start="3015" data-end="3043">Boost network resilience</strong> by monitoring performance and ensuring uptime.<br>Add <strong data-start="3099" data-end="3131">advanced firewall protection</strong> against external threats.<br>"By protecting devices, training employees, backing up critical data, and using tools like United BizControl, you can give your business the resilience it needs to thrive in today&rsquo;s digital economy,&rdquo; a United Communications spokesperson said. Tools help to give&nbsp;business owners&nbsp;the confidence and protection they need to thrive in today&rsquo;s digital economy.<br><strong>For more information</strong> or to check fiber internet availability in your area, visit United Communications online to learn how their services help businesses stay connected and secure.&nbsp;see if United&rsquo;s fiber internet is&nbsp;<a href="https://united.net/service-map-page" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://united.net/service-map-page&source=gmail&ust=1761106225408000&usg=AOvVaw0VnA5vNW5scABMrlYXaFpD">available in your area</a>&nbsp;or to learn more about how we can help&nbsp;<a href="https://united.net/bizcontrol" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://united.net/bizcontrol&source=gmail&ust=1761106225408000&usg=AOvVaw22RE76Zafr05P8PcSSnWr2">keep your small business safe online</a>.<br>&nbsp;<br><br><a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi7gFBVV95cUxPUjBaaUtxaEk1RzY3ejZUWHZPbUdFY19pWUIzckwtOXR2d096aDZoOFB3S1hJZjBfcTROUk84U3dRa3RpcHc1SVAtT25JU0VWYnZyV0ZfbUxOaGNPTlduVVFadkJxLXZieGVnUXpjdjRGNGw0THBER1FqT0ZDQ0tMV2djZmpqaTV1SEI1RS1NVE5HbWwyRUlEVHJwQVlENlh0cmFNM1pHYUZFZHZGdzRTQVg4Zm10djNqZk5mOVp2TThycnBUcHV6OFJEc2NyNFBEeDJ2REp0QUYzVE5RTVU0aHRVQnNKVVhxMTJNZk9B?oc=5">source</a>