With all of the recent coverage of new viruses and widespread password cracking, cybersecurity has been thrust into the spotlight for even the less tech-savvy among us. However, the issue of online security isn't just a concern for consumers alone.

Mashable's Alex Fitzpatrick posted an article on the American Express OPEN forum for small businesses explaining the steps every company should take to protect its information from hackers. And to determine those measures, Fitzpatrick sat down with Rick Doten, vice president of cybersecurity at the IT security firm DMI.

According to Doten, employees should be required to use "smart passwords" that have more than 8 letters and are virtually impossible to crack. One of the best ways to create such a code is to use a mnemonic device - penning a phrase like "All good boys deserve 7 pieces of fudge except George Clooney" to remember "Agbd7pofeGC," for example.

Doten then recommends that businesses monitor personal devices used in the office. If an employee is using a personal Apple iPad or Sony Vaio in the workplace, then the IT manager should know the corporate information it can access so it can be correctly encrypted.

Doten told the source that companies are not only getting access to their competitors' sensitive information by "hacking into employees' devices," but also through social media. He recommends that companies brief their employees on what they can and cannot reveal about the business online.

Finally, every company should evaluate how important the information they store online via cloud computing is to their overall business. Namely - how damaging would it be if a competitor gained access to it? The answer to that can help determine your budget for cybersecurity.

Any small business owners or employees who are looking to beef up their online security or introduce new Samsung or Toshiba laptops into their company's network should consult an experienced PortableOne retailer to review their options.