For many who don't work in IT or cybersecurity, knowing how to protect yourself online can be challenging. Here are a handful of the many free, easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that professionals use to protect themselves and their workplaces online.

Tools to bookmark…

PART 1

We’ve all seen the headlines. Data breach. Ransomware. Millions lost. Reputational damage. And if it didn’t happen to your company, maybe you exhaled and thought, “Glad it wasn’t us.” But hope is not a cybersecurity strategy.

In 2024, the average cost of a data breach in the U.S. was $9.8 million, and globally, it was $4.9 million. But the real cost often goes far beyond those numbers. Even if your systems aren’t directly compromised, a vendor breach can trigger mandatory disclosures, audits, and client attrition.

My story in tech didn't start with cybersecurity. It began supporting Adobe software back when I thought I'd be creating the future, not defending it. From graphic design to network administration during the dot-com boom, I got a front-row seat to innovation—and to its vulnerabilities. Over time, systems and servers became more interesting to me than shadows and gradients, and by the time most people noticed how vital security was, I'd already made it my focus.