Eight Myths About Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity can seem like a mystery full of misconceptions and misinformation. It’s integral for businesses to have a cybersecurity strategy, but businesses still have issues with cybersecurity threats despite having action plans in place.

No matter how thorough IT departments think they are being, they may be building their security plans on shaky ground. Here are some of the most common cybersecurity myths to bust if you want to manage your business' cyber security properly.

Cybersecurity Myth #1: Anti-virus is enough

You might think that a good security software is all you need, but if that's all you have to protect your business against a cybersecurity threat then you're letting danger slip through the cracks.

Security software, such as antivirus solutions, firewall, and other malware detectors, may have been enough 20 years ago, but hackers have amped up their game and are targeting your data in many different ways.

Anti-virus or anti-malware software relies on a large database that has information about all the existing malware/viruses that exist. Hackers are creating new viruses daily, so your IT systems are still at risk. Nowadays, the use of ransomware is on the rise and it's easier than ever for your systems to getting infected and for you data to be leaked.

Cybersecurity Myth #2: BOYD is safer

Many businesses believe that if they have their employees use their own hardware systems, including laptops and cellphones, to do their work that they will be safer from threats. While it's true that your employees’ devices aren't as highly connected to the whole system as if they were owned by the company, but you still can't trust the safety of personal devices.

It only takes one weak link to take down your whole network. To avoid cybersecurity threats, require all of your users to adhere to your cybersecurity policies, whether on their own personal devices or on those handed out by the company.

Cybersecurity Myth #3: Your business is too small for a cyber attack

Some small businesses still think that they are too small to be targeted by hackers. The truth is that any size business in any industry needs to protect itself from cybersecurity threats. You might think, "but I don't have anything valuable for hackers to steal."

All of the information you have to make your business operate, like personal addresses or credit card numbers are potential targets and need to be protected to maintain the reputation of your business.

Cybersecurity Myth #4: Telling if your computer is infected is easy

Most of the time you won't even know that your cybersecurity has been compromised and that your computer has been infected with malware, and that's exactly how the hackers want it.

It used to be that you computer would act strange and you would get weird pop-ups when you had a virus. Now you need to keep an eye on more subtle signs, like if your battery is draining faster than normal or if you are seeing ads in places they didn't used to be. Stay on top of cyber threats by doing scans regularly.

Cybersecurity Myth #5: Strong passwords are all you need

When was the last time you changed your password? And is it even strong enough?

For home computer users, a strong password is usually enough to keep the system safe from security threats, but for businesses of any size or sale, you need to invest in something more heavy-duty for your cybersecurity needs. Malware attacks can easily breach password security, especially if you use the same password to protect different systems across your company. While a strong password is a good place to start, it’s best to use a two-factor-authentication to get in more cyber security protection. Two-factor-authentication is made up of 2 parts: the first is your strong password or pin number, and the second is another identification factor like an item the user has in his or her possession, a fingerprint, a voice pattern or another characteristic that is difficult to duplicate.

Cybersecurity Myth #6: Threats only enter through the internet

It's a common misconception that cybersecurity threats can only enter your computer through the internet. Time to bust this myth and be aware that threats can enter through any device. For example, your business' whole IT system might get infected if an employee accidentally uses an infected flash drive.

Cybersecurity Myth #7: Threats all come from outside

Using that infected flash drive might have been an accident or it might be the work of a disgruntled ex-employee. It's hard to believe, but research suggests that almost 75% of cyber attacks and data breaches are caused by someone on the inside. It's important to be careful about who you grant access to your data and train your employees how to be safe and protect your IT systems from a security breach.

Cybersecurity Myth #8: Your IT department should fix everything

The first step in any good cybersecurity policy is to train your employees about how to safely and responsibly use technology to keep you from dealing with cyber attacks in the first place, but cyber security issues are bound to happen anyway. Your IT department can't handle all of the new threats popping up every day. An effective solution is to switch to a managed IT service, where experts can help you make a plan for your business to fend off cyber security threats around the clock.

These days, it feels like a cyber security attack is always on the news, but it really could happen to you and your business, too. Here we've busted some myths about cyber security so that your better equipped to protect yourself to protect yourself and your customers.