Today, cybersecurity is unquestionably one of the most important aspects of business all over the world. Companies are becoming more aware of its significance and have begun to invest in establishing procedures and practices. However, some businesses and individuals continue to believe in and fall for certain myths and misconceptions, putting their system and entire organization at risk.

Let’s take a look at the top five most common cybersecurity myths that you should stop believing right now:

Myth 1: It won’t happen to a small company

This is one of the most common and ridiculous excuses or myths that people believe in, and it needs to be debunked immediately. The first and most important thing to understand here is that cyber attackers are unconcerned about the size of your organization. Attackers find it far easier to hack or attempt a cyber-attack on a small business.

Many people believe this strongly because they believe that the data they have may not be of great value to attackers or that they will gain little from attacking a small company. Most attacks are unknown, and people are unaware; it is only when organizations such as Yahoo or Equifax are attacked that it becomes news.

Small and Medium scale companies usually invest less in fortifying their cyber-defences. In fact, the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon says that 58% of data breach targets are small businesses.

The whole mindset on cybersecurity should be changed to “When will we be attacked?” rather than thinking “Will we be attacked”. Otherwise, small organizations will have full confidence in their security systems and become ever vulnerable to an attack.

Myth 2: It’s the IT team’s responsibility, not my worry

This could not be further from the truth. Although IT support teams are typically in charge of implementing cybersecurity processes and policies, in order to maintain the cybersecurity system, people must adhere to the policies and systems – ad verbum.

Employees should remain vigilant and be aware of any policies or types of attacks. One of the most common is phishing or spoofing attacks via e-mail messages, which can jeopardize security by spreading the virus or malware across all departments within the organization.

Myth 3: All Cyber-attacks are targeted

Another common misconception about cyber-attacks is that they are all targeted. In reality, this isn’t always the case. Attackers seek out vulnerable systems and wait for an opportunity to strike.

It is always best to understand the attacks that are specific to you and distinguish them from the opportunistic ones that attack vulnerable systems in general. Better procedures and systems can then be implemented to protect the organization from cyber-attacks.

Myth 4: Antivirus software keeps the system safe from all attacks

Yes, this is another myth that, if you continue to believe it, will cost you a lot of money. If we went back two decades, this would have been true.

Hackers are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to circumvent antivirus defenses these days. The best example is that ransomware attacks are becoming more common, and you could have your data encrypted in seconds.

An antivirus program alone will not always keep your systems and data safe. It is always a good idea to stay up to date on the latest threats and develop procedures to protect against such attacks.

Myth 5: Cybersecurity is compromised because of malicious third-party actors

This is another common misconception among many people, as they blame or attempt to focus solely on the possibility of external actors with malicious intentions attacking your organization.

The most common cause of data breaches is human error. However, in many cases, that is the last thing they look at in a security breach incident. Because attackers prey on and exploit vulnerabilities, it is preferable to conduct a thorough analysis of potential threats, pay attention to internal procedures, and examine potential system flaws.

Many times, the problem is caused by a lack of proper security training or assessment. Constant awareness sessions and the development of a strong cybersecurity culture are critical for tracking and systemizing various aspects of Information Security Management and Cybersecurity.

Conclusion

People all over the world should abandon their belief in these cybersecurity myths and misconceptions. The entire organization’s security will be jeopardized as a result.

With the rise in the number of automated, complex, and sophisticated cyber-attacks, keeping up with modern cybersecurity strategies has become extremely difficult and challenging. To reduce risk and protect critical data assets, organizations should consider implementing advanced security technologies.

Are You Looking For A Computer Security Service You Can Finally Trust?

Managed Technology Solutions, also known as ManagedTEK – IT Security Services & Monitoring, is a managed service provider that provides IT support and security solutions for businesses throughout the greater San Francisco Bay Area. ManagedTEK, was founded on an urgency to empower and protect our community from the digital war on personal security and privacy. We focus and specialize in protecting businesses from falling victim to increasingly complex cyber threats. We use cutting-edge technology along with proven cybersecurity practices to provide support and protection for small businesses. Contact us today for your free consultation!