As a CTO or business owner, you might think that your company is too small to be a target for network attacks or that a strong password is all you need to protect your network and data.
However, these are just some of the cybersecurity beliefs that could be putting your business at risk.
In this blog post, we'll debunk some of the most common cybersecurity myths so that you can ensure your business is as safe and protected as possible.
Read on to find out which other beliefs could leave your business vulnerable to attack.
Myth: Your small business isn't a likely target for network attacks
Truth: Unfortunately, small businesses are more likely to be targeted by cybercrime than larger businesses. This is because they often lack the resources to invest in robust cybersecurity measures, making them an easy target for criminals.
A significant concern for small businesses is that 43% of cyberattacks are geared toward them. So, if you think your business is too small to be a target, you could be leaving it vulnerable to attack.
Additionally, small businesses often have valuable customer data that hackers can access and sell on the black market. That's why it's important to take steps to secure your network, even if you think you're too small to be a target.
Myth: A strong password is good enough to keep your network and data protected
Truth: A strong password is undoubtedly vital to protecting your network, but it's not enough on its own. While having a strong password is definitely better than having a weak one, it's not enough to keep your data safe on its own.
Hackers can use brute force attacking to guess passwords until they gain access to a system.
To protect your business from this type of attack, you should use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in your passwords and change them regularly.
You should also consider using two-factor authentication, which requires users to provide two pieces of information—such as a password and a code sent to their mobile phone—in order to log in.
Myth: All you need is Anti-Virus software to protect you from business email compromise attacks
Truth: Anti-Virus (AV) software is critical in the battle against cyberattacks, but it isn't enough by itself.
AV software can only protect against known threats, so it's necessary to supplement it with other actions such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
Additionally, AV software needs to be updated regularly to be effective, so ensure you have a system quickly and easily.
Also, anti-virus software is essential to any good cybersecurity strategy, but it won't do much to protect you from business email compromise (BEC) attacks. BEC attacks occur when hackers gain access to a corporate email account and use it to send fraudulent wire transfer requests to employees or vendors.
To protect against BEC attacks, companies should implement policies like dual approval for wire transfers and employee awareness education.
Myth: Cybersecurity is expensive, and you need to have a big budget to be secure
Truth: While it's true that some cybersecurity measures can be expensive, there are many steps you can take to secure your business on a tight budget.
One cost-effective measure is to invest in awareness training for your employees. This can help them to spot potential threats and take steps to avoid them. Additionally, you should ensure that your passwords are strong and regularly changed and that you have a system to update your anti-virus software quickly.
While some expensive cybersecurity measures you can take, there are also many affordable steps to protect your business. Taking simple precautions can significantly reduce your risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.
Myth: If your WiFi is password protected, it'll be secure
Truth: Password protecting your WiFi is a good first step, but it won't do much to stop determined hackers. If a hacker is in range of your WiFi network, they can use sophisticated tools to crack the password and gain access to your network.
To further secure your WiFi, consider using encryption protocols like WPA2- Enterprise, which are much more difficult for hackers to crack. You should also consider hiding your WiFi network from public view to make it more difficult for hackers to find.
Myth: An Annual employee security training is adequate to protect against phishing attacks
Truth: Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly common, and annual employee security training is not adequate protection against them. Phishing attacks are hard to detect because they often come from trusted sources like colleagues or partners.
To combat phishing attacks, companies should consider implementing real-time threat detection tools that can identify suspicious emails as they come in and block them before they reach employees' inboxes.
Myth: You'll know within a short period if you were hacked
Truth: Not all breaches are immediately discovered. Many go undetected for months or even years! This is especially true for small businesses that may not have the resources to monitor their networks for unusual activity constantly.
It's crucial to invest in formal breach detection processes so that you can quickly identify and mitigate any hacking attempts before they cause severe damage.
If you suspect that your business has been hacked, you should contact a cybersecurity expert immediately to help you assess the situation and take steps to mitigate the breach.
Myth: Cybersecurity should only be focused on by your IT Department
Truth: Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility! Employees should be trained on best practices like not sharing passwords and not clicking on links in suspicious emails.
Additionally, all departments should have procedures in place in case of a breach so that everyone knows what steps need to be taken to mitigate the damage caused by the attack.
Cybersecurity is a team effort, and everyone in the company needs to be on board.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is an influential topic in the modern world, but some myths and misconceptions about it need to be debunked. One such myth is that you must be a computer expert to have good cybersecurity.
This is false - you can protect yourself using common sense and following basic safety precautions.
Another common misconception is that criminals only commit cybercrime in far-away countries. The truth is that cybercrime can happen anywhere, and anyone can be a victim. So it's important to be vigilant online and take steps to protect yourself from cyberattacks.
In conclusion, while cybersecurity is complex and sometimes difficult to understand, there are some basic steps everyone can take to protect themselves online. By being aware of the dangers and using common sense precautions, we can help keep ourselves and our data safe from cybercrime.
What are some other myths about cybersecurity that you've heard? Let us know in the comments!
