Dubunking 10 Cybersecurity Myths

01 Apr Dubunking 10 Cybersecurity Myths

Cybersecurity is now one of the most essential parts of doing business. Companies are investing in cyber defense and training, but there are a few misconceptions and myths about cybersecurity that should be avoided. We are breaking down the top 10 cybersecurity myths:

1. Business is too small for a cyber-attack.

Most small and mid-sized businesses think they are safe from cyberattacks because they’re off the radar, which is not the case. Hackers don’t care about the sizes of the business that they attack, as long as they are successful. Hackers know that smaller companies don’t invest or follow cybersecurity protocols, which make for an easier hack.  Studies have shown that 58% of data breach targets are small businesses. It doesn’t matter if you have 10 employees or 10,000, your business is at risk of getting hit by a cyber-attack.

2. Anti-virus protection is good enough.

While these protections are a good place to start for a business and should be utilized, just anti-virus or anti-malware can’t keep your system safe from all types of cyber-attacks. This type of software relies heavily on an extensive database that has information about all the malware/viruses out there. If a new kind of malware is used to infect your network, there is a high chance that this anti-virus software won’t be able to detect those. We recommend that you utilize this software as the first line of defense for your network instead of your complete cybersecurity strategy.

3. Cyber breaches are covered by general liability insurance.

Another cybersecurity myth, because many standard insurance policies do not cover cyber incidents or data breaches. Businesses will need to invest in a cybersecurity specific policy. However, we recommend being careful when you pick a policy to ensure that you are getting the coverage that your business requires.

4. Our industry doesn’t have any cyber-threats.

Every industry is at risk. If you are connected to the internet, then you are at risk. We like to think that only financial industries are targets, but that’s just not the case. Hackers target whoever they can, at any time.

5. Cybersecurity requires a substantial financial investment.

There are small, inexpensive changes that businesses can implement that won’t break the bank. There is no need to go out and get the latest and greatest in cybersecurity. Following a few simple guidelines for your business will provide the protection that you need while at a low cost.

6. Compliance with industry standards is sufficient for a security strategy.

Merely complying with industry standards does not mean that you have a robust cybersecurity strategy for your business. While it is good to follow your industry-specific guidelines, those may not be enough to provide real protection for your business.

7. Cyber-threats are only external.

While it’s true there are a lot of external threats, data breaches from the inside do happen. A disgruntled employee or just an ignorant user on your network can grant access to your entire organization’s data resulting in a massive data breach. If you don’t have internal controls set up to protect your system, you could be leaving these a vital part of your network exposed.

8. The IT department will take care of it.

While it is most IT department’s job to implement and review policies for cybersecurity, they cannot take care of everything. The responsibility lies on the business leaders to enforce cybersecurity guidelines, and that each employee is following training. IT departments could follow every procedure, but an untrained employee could end up downloading malware through emails or unsafe websites.

9. We don’t need tests or training.

This one is another huge cybersecurity myth because education and regular testing are vital to the cyber health of a company. Employees should regularly test with phishing emails and offer cybersecurity education. However, companies also need to look at testing their networks as well, with penetration testing, vulnerability scans, and security risk assessments. These types of assessments need to be done consistently to ensure that your cybersecurity protocols work when the time comes.

10. We will know if we been hacked.

The days of knowing you have been hacked because your computer was running slower, load pop-ups, etc. are over. Today’s attacks are much more hidden. You could have an attacker sitting on your network for months, just gathering data without your knowledge, which could be used to hold your network hostage or make public-private data. That is why it is so important to do regular checks of your network.

As you can see, there are a lot of cybersecurity myths that could be causing harm to your business if you follow any of them. This is why we recommend a security risk assessment to evaluate your network and see where you are vulnerable. Contact our team to get your customized assessment today!