17 Cybersecurity Misconceptions and Myths

Cybersecurity preparedness is very important for modern businesses. If you want your IT services to run uninterrupted, then you should focus on your IT security strategy. You should focus on protecting your business from attacks, hacks, and breaches. However, there are many misconceptions related to cybersecurity.

Companies are now focusing more on cybersecurity. However, they don’t implement the best security controls due to cybersecurity myths and misconceptions. In this article, we are going to talk about the common cybersecurity myths. This will ensure that you can properly plan your IT security strategy.

1. Attackers don’t target SMBs

Most SMB owners think that cybercriminals won’t attack them. However, your business is not immune to cyber-attacks. SMBs generally don’t have good security controls. Thus, they are an easy target for attackers. Hackers can quickly steal data from SMBs and make some quick money.

SMBs are also targeted for spray-and-pray attacks. Most SMBs are working with large organizations. Thus, they can act as a backdoor. Attackers will use your network for targeting a large organization. This will lead to various compliance issues. Most SMBs don’t have access to skilled IT security teams and security software. Thus, they are considered easy targets.

2. We will never experience a data breach

Most organizations think that they will never experience a data breach. They think that their data is not valuable for attackers. However, every business can suffer a data breach. Almost every business will suffer a security breach in their lifetime. Thus, it is important to ensure that you are ready for a security attack.

You should have an IT security strategy. IT security strategy can help you in decreasing your downtime. You can quickly recover your data after a cyber attack.

3. We are safe because we have access to advanced security tools

Many large enterprises think that they are safe because they have invested in expensive security tools. You can’t create an invincible shield by using only advanced security tools. These advanced security solutions are important for your IT security strategy. However, they won’t protect your business from every cyber attack.

Your security solutions and tools should be properly configured. Make sure that your IT team is regularly monitoring and maintaining these solutions. This will ensure that your business is truly protected from cyber attacks. Your security solutions should be properly integrated with your IT infrastructure.

4. Staying compliant with standard compliance is enough for my business

It is important to ensure that you are following all the industry data regulations. This will help you in building trust. Also, it will protect your business from legal consequences. For example, if you are operating in the healthcare industry, then you must follow HIPAA compliance. However, most compliance will only contain the minimum security practices. This is to ensure that you are at least following some security practices.

You should first ensure that your regulation is covering all the important data and systems. For example, PCI DSS compliance focuses only on protecting credit card data. You need to protect your other important information. If you are storing your client’s personal details, then you should protect them.

5. Our passwords are strong

Most organizations think that their employees are using strong passwords. However, this is not true. You should focus on creating a strong password policy. Make sure that your employees are using strong passwords. You can use a password manager tool like LastPass for solving this problem. This tool will generate complex passwords.

You should also employ multi-factor authentication. This will ensure that attackers can’t access your network even after stealing your password. They need to first prove their identity. You should also use access controls for limiting the scope of your employees.

6. We should only protect internet-facing services

Organizations should first focus on applications that are connected with the internet. However, this is not enough. You should also focus on protecting your applications. Your employee might use an infected hard disk. Thus, you should also address insider threats.

7. Only the IT department is responsible for IT security

Your IT team is going to play the main role in protecting your business data. They will implement security controls and integrate them with your infrastructure. Also, they are responsible for creating your IT security strategy. However, your IT team is not solely responsible for managing your security.

A security breach will affect your entire business. Thus, you should focus on training your employees. Make sure that your leadership and employees understand the importance of IT security. Everyone should be prepared for a security breach. This will ensure that you can properly respond to a security breach.

8. Antivirus software is enough

Antivirus software was enough in the past. However, they can’t protect your entire business now. They are still important for your business as they will help you in keeping your workstations secure.

You should create a complex IT security plan for your business. This plan should contain everything from employee training to insider threat detection and incident response plan. It will include all the security controls that you are going to use. You should also create a business continuity plan. This plan will ensure that you can run your business operations even in case of a disaster.

9. Cyber attacks come from external attackers

Most cyber-attacks originate from external sources. However, this doesn’t mean that you can completely ignore insider threats. Your employees have access to more systems and data. If they want to leak your data, then they can easily do it.

Employee malicious behavior, ignorance, and negligence can lead to security breaches. It is important to ensure that you are also protecting your business from insider attacks. Attackers will generally target your employees. Thus, it is important to ensure that you are monitoring your network for insider threats.

10. BYOD is safe

Most businesses think that bringing your own device to work is a safe practice. It is a cost-effective practice and you can save a lot of money by allowing BYOD. However, your employees will connect their personal devices with your network. If your employee’s devices are hacked, then your entire network will get hacked. Your employee devices will act as a new endpoint for attackers.

Attackers are always looking for one weak link only. They need to find the only weak link in your entire network. Thus, it is important to ensure that you are securing all your endpoint devices. If you want to allow personal devices, then you should create a strict BYOD policy. Make sure that you are using mobile device management software for protecting your network.

11. We don’t need training or tests

This can be fatal for your entire business. Most people think that they can become IT security by watching few Youtube videos. However, this is a misconception. IT security is a vast field and you need to spend a lot of time learning about new vulnerabilities and attacks. You should ensure that you are performing vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.

Penetration tests will help you in testing your entire network. It will help you in fixing major bugs in your network. You should also train your IT security team. Make sure that your IT security team is keeping up with the latest trends.

12. We have a perfect IT security system

IT is becoming more advance and complicated with time. New threats are emerging every day. You will never have access to a perfect IT security system. It is important to ensure that you are adapting IT security policies according to the threat landscape. This will help you in avoiding any mishaps.

13. A password can protect our WI-Fi network

If your employees are working in a remote environment, then this point is very important for you. Most people think that their Wi-Fi network is secure because they are using a password. However, almost every public Wi-Fi network can be hacked.

Passwords will only limit normal users from accessing Wi-Fi networks. However, attackers can easily brute force these passwords. You should ensure that your employees are using VPNs for protecting their connections. If your employees are using a public Wi-Fi network, then attackers can get access to their devices. Your employee device will act as a backdoor.

14. Phishing and scams are obvious

Phishing scams are becoming more convincing and intelligent with time. Attackers might withhold your employee sensitive information. They will force your employees to download malware in your workstations. Attackers might act as your business executive. The data that they are using to reach you is probably breached. Some attackers can even breach social media accounts.

Thus, it is important to ensure that you are protecting your business from phishing attacks. The best way to do this is by training your employees. Make sure that your employees know about the best IT security tips. They should know how to identify phishing emails. This will help you in protecting your business from phishing scams. It will ensure that your employees can actually spot phishing emails.

15. Our security posture is strong because we have never experienced a cyber attack

Many organizations have this misconception. They think that their business is safe because they have never been breached. However, this is a very costly mistake. Organizations should work on continuously improving their cybersecurity.

You can never achieve perfect security. Even the biggest enterprises can get hacked due to a zero-day attack. Thus, it is important to ensure that you are always improving your security posture. This will help you in reacting quickly to an IT security incident. It will help you in mitigating cyber attacks. You can reduce the damage caused by security breaches if you have a good incident response plan.

16. We can easily detect data breaches

Most companies think that they will immediately know about the cyber attack. However, no attacker will give you signs until they want to lock your data. Attackers will steal as much data as they can. Sometimes it might take you months to detect a data breach. Marriot is a hospitality giant still they detected security breach after 4 years. More than 500 million guests’ data was stolen.

You should ensure that you are regularly monitoring your network. This will help you in detecting signs of a real cyber attack. You should also perform penetration tests. Penetration testing can help you in finding vulnerabilities in your network which can be exploited.

17. We have achieved perfect cybersecurity

It is important to understand that cybersecurity is an ongoing process. You can’t treat cybersecurity as an outcome. Cyberattacks are evolving with time. Attackers are always looking for new methods to attack businesses. Thus, your business is always at risk.

You should continuously monitor your IT infrastructure and network. Make sure that you are regularly conducting security and internal audits. This will help you in finding bugs in your network. You should also review your security policies. Make sure that you are upgrading your security policies regularly. You should embed your security practices into your main business processes. It is important to invest in new security strategies and tools. This will help you in protecting your business from new attacks.

How Bleuwire can help your business?

If you want to protect your business from hackers, then you should consider working with a good MSSP. Experienced MSSPs like Bleuwire can help you in protecting your business from cyberattacks. They can help you in implementing the best security practices and tools. This will ensure that you don’t need to worry about hiring security professionals for your business. You will get access to a large team of IT security professionals. They will help you in creating a custom IT security strategy for your business. If you need more information regarding IT security services, then you can contact Bleuwire.

Contact us today to learn about Bleuwire™  services and solutions in how we can help your business.