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In the world of cybersecurity, businesses have many common misconceptions when they get started. Review explanations for five cybersecurity myths and what you can do to prevent cyber incidents.
Myth 1: My business is too small to be hacked.
Busted: About 50% of all small businesses have been targeted by cybercrime.
In reality, hackers often target small businesses based on the minimal cybersecurity measures they employ. Yet, ransomware can devastate and even shut down an entire organization.
Even small organizations can mitigate cyber risk with knowledge and training. Since human error causes most cyber incidents, spotting phishing emails, using multiple layers of authentication, and strong password policies are critical.
Myth 2: Phishing emails are easy to spot.
Busted: New technology and strategies make scam emails look more legitimate.
AI has cleared up spelling and grammar errors, making phishing emails harder to spot. Even worse, cybercriminals can find logos and images online to make emails look more official and professional. In some cases, they may even impersonate your boss or a trusted associate.
Common phishing tactics include urgent action requirements, requests for sensitive data such as passwords or financial information, links you must click, and false warnings about suspicious activity or login attempts.
Be cautious with any email that requires a quick response. If a coworker sends an unexpected attachment, confirm its legitimacy through another communication method. Report and delete emails with links from addresses you do not recognize. Authentic requests will follow up with another method of communication.
Myth 3: Cybersecurity is IT’s job, not everyone’s.
Busted: One compromised user can infect and take down an entire network.
While an IT team can help reduce risks to critical cyber infrastructure, it takes organization-wide education to achieve the safest results. If one user in any department carelessly clicks a phishing email, malware can cause downtime and create a nightmare for everyone, not just IT.
Common strategies to reduce risk include limiting user access. For example, a sales employee does not need access to other departments’ data, reducing the risk of spreading infection across the network. Cybersecurity training for every employee should be mandatory to avoid potential cyber incidents.
Myth 4: We’ve never had a problem before, so we don’t need more cybersecurity now.
Busted: Inaction instead of proactive measures increases your risk every day.
Cybercriminals always look for new ways to trick users, constantly shifting and changing their strategies. Businesses without a cybersecurity plan are like a combination safe waiting for someone with unlimited access and time to guess the right numbers.
Plan for when cyber incidents occur, not just if they do. An incident response plan is one example of how businesses can take control and know how to respond in the event of a cyber incident. Other proactive approaches include maintaining a list of contact phone numbers, conducting penetration testing on cybersecurity measures, and monitoring your network.
Myth 5: Antivirus software is all we need to be safe.
Busted: More sophisticated threats exist, and your network can still be infected.
While a good business antivirus solution was once enough, cybercrime has evolved and continues to evolve. Cyber threats like ransomware can infect a network and lock users out before antivirus software detects them.
Multi-factor authentication and advanced endpoint protection are key first steps your business can take to strengthen cyber resilience. For complete protection, find what fits best for your organization by scheduling a free consultation online with Golden West Technologies.
Sources: U.S. Small Business Association, Datto, Federal Trade Commission