There are many myths out there about cybersecurity. Believing in them can be a grave mistake when it comes to your business. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself and your employees on what myths hold some truth, and which are totally false. Check out our list of debunked cybersecurity myths to get started.
My business is too small to be the victim of a cyber-attack
All businesses, no matter how big or small, have valuable data worth protecting. Cybercriminals are interested in your employment records, tax information, and more. Of course, some information is more sensitive than others. Classify your data by sensitivity, and put the proper security measurements in place accordingly.
Cybersecurity is an IT issue
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, not just your IT teams. You cannot simply rely on technology to secure your data. Yes, you should have the proper anti-malware, advanced threat protection, and monitoring software in place, however, you should also educate and train your employees on security policies and procedures. This includes your IT staff, as well as the rest of the employees on your team.
Cybersecurity is too expensive
Your cybersecurity policy doesn’t have to be a huge expense. There are plenty of steps you can take to protect your data that are virtually free. For example, instituting cybersecurity policies, restricting administrative access, enabling two-factor authentication, and educating and training your employees are just a few steps you can take to protect your data. At the end of the day, the cost of a data breach can be far more expensive than the cost of securing your data properly.
Cyber-attacks are always caused by external factors
Cyberattacks are commonly thought to be caused by some hooded, cybercriminal in a faraway location. While hackers in remote countries do exist, cyber incidents are frequently caused by internal users. Some incidents may be caused by employees falling for phishing scams or accidentally sending an email to the wrong recipient, while others may be due to a disgruntled former employee. It’s important to educate your employees on common cybersecurity scams and to limit which employees have access to your more sensitive data.
Digital security and physical security are separate
Cybersecurity isn’t just about being protected online, your physical office should be well protected too. Is it easy to gain access to sensitive information and assets like servers or paper records in your office? Policies should be put into place to control access to these things. Any unrecognized visitors should be monitored, and mobile devices should be properly secured when left unattended. Adding surveillance cameras and a paging system for entrance can also help keep potential threats out of your office.
Don’t let cybersecurity become confusing. Educate your employees and ensure you have the right cybersecurity procedures and policies in place to keep your business’ data safe.
