Businesses of all sizes are at risk for cybercrime, with the reward for data breaches rising and tech advancing swiftly. To protect your business from costly attacks, you need to understand and dispel common cybersecurity myths to keep your company (and consumers) safe.
So, save your business time, money, and headaches by learning about eight dangerous digital defense myths that could cost your company big time.
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EOL means you have to migrate immediately
While using end-of-life software and operating systems come with risks, it doesn’t mean that you have to migrate your entire system immediately. Instead, you can take steps to mitigate the risks, such as by implementing security controls and keeping up with patches.
For example, if you’re coping with CentOS 7 EOL or other EOL announcements, you can take advantage of extended lifecycle support services to keep your systems running safely and securely while you put together a solid migration strategy. Click here for more information on how to keep your system safe and secure.
Complex passwords are easy to crack
While it’s true that complex passwords are more difficult to decipher than simple ones, they’re not impossible to break. Hackers can use sophisticated tools to guess passwords and infiltrate systems, regardless of their complexity.
That’s why it’s essential to use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in your passwords and change them regularly. Additionally, use two-factor authentication whenever possible so that even if a hacker cracks the code, they won’t be able to access your account.
Small businesses don’t need to worry about cybersecurity
Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you’re not at risk for cybercrime. Cyber trends in 2022 show hackers often target small businesses because they tend to have weaker cybersecurity defenses.
As a result, small businesses typically spend more on recovery after a data breach than larger businesses with more extensive security measures. To protect your small business, ensure you have robust cybersecurity measures —like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and proper employee training— in place.
Cybersecurity costs too much money
Investing in cybersecurity can save your business money in the long run by preventing data breaches and other cyber incidents. Though the initial cost of protective services and systems may be steep, the price of a powerful data breach will likely be much greater than security setup expenses.
In addition, you can implement many cybersecurity solutions, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems, for little or no cost with the right service. Ultimately, having protections to save you from business-tanking attacks is worth any price you pay.
Anti-virus software is all you need
While anti-virus software is an integral part of any cybersecurity strategy, it’s not enough to keep your business in the clear. Unfortunately, anti-virus software can’t protect against all threats or detect and remove all malware.
To stay adequately protected, you need to build a comprehensive security solution that includes the following types of measures:
- firewalls
- encryption
- access control
Implementing multiple measures creates challenging roadblocks for cyber-attackers, protecting your systems and data behind several security layers.
You don’t need to worry about insider threats
Insider threats are a real and serious threat to businesses of all sizes, causing more damage than external liabilities because they often have access to sensitive information and systems.
You should have measures to detect and prevent insider threats to protect your business, such as employee training and activity monitoring. In addition, management should be aware of the signs of an insider threat and take action if necessary—especially in termination cases.
Only IT experts can understand cybersecurity
Anyone can learn about and understand cybersecurity. While you may need IT experts to implement more complex, tech-heavy solutions, like firewalls and intrusion detection systems, there are many ways to improve your cybersecurity without technical expertise.
For example, you can educate your employees about cybersecurity risks, attack indications, and best practices to keep workers alert and cautious. Or, consider creating policies and procedures to help protect your data.
All hackers are bad
Not all hackers are malicious and out for money. Many ethical hackers use their skills to help businesses improve their cybersecurity. Companies often hire ethical hackers —also known as white hat hackers— to test their cybersecurity defenses.
This process, known as ethical hacking or penetration testing, can help businesses find and fix vulnerabilities before being exploited by ill-intentioned hackers.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is a complex and ever-evolving issue, but there are several basic principles that all businesses should follow to protect themselves. By busting digital security myths, you can help keep your business safe from cyber threats.
