Passwords do not receive the respect they deserve as a first line of defense against threats. Roughly 60 percent of confirmed data breaches involve weak, stolen, or default passwords. Most businesses provide little to no training for employees around selecting secure passwords, so it's no surprise that "123456", "password", "qwerty", and "Star Wars" are commonly used.

Technology providers for businesses should hold their internal practices to a high standard, especially relating to security and threat management. With that in mind, here are four questions business leaders can ask when evaluating how an IT provider approaches security for their internal organization and customers.

C Spire has bolstered its network resources and mobilized employees in case it needs to respond to Hurricane Michael, which is expected to make landfall along the Florida Panhandle this afternoon as the season’s first Category 4 hurricane.

Michael made landfall near Panama City with winds up to 120 mph, storm surge of 9 to 13 feet and rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches. Mandatory evacuations have been issued and a state of emergency has been declared for 35 Florida coastal counties, four Alabama counties and 92 counties in Georgia in the storm’s path.

C Spire readies its extensive wireless and wireline networks and workforce for a wide range of potential disasters, including major weather events such as hurricanes. The company routinely reviews and updates its emergency preparedness plans and conducts drills throughout the year to test the readiness of its network and employees.

An organization's network contains a wealth of information that can help identify threats. However, collecting, reviewing, and responding to this information is a monumental challenge for most. There are many threat management solutions available, but it’s important to remember that one size does not fit all.

There are multiple paths organizations can take to develop a culture of network security – some more difficult than others. Which will you choose?