Unless you have been living in a cave, you and your business have definitely been caught in the whirlwind of technological revolution in the recent decade. The onset of the internet has transformed the way we communicate, obtain, and share information. Even our social relationship dynamics have changed.
With each passing year, broadband internet speeds have picked up substantially, become less costly, and more widely available. You just have to go to an ISP retail site to see the considerably wide variety of options available to consumers and businesses. AT&T, Spectrum, and Windstream Internet Cost is a mere pittance compared to the futuristic connectivity and other benefits they provide.
Where there is a crowd, businesses and enterprises will come flocking to create their own digital space and cater to the rising online demand. On the other hand, where there are people and businesses, criminals are bound to invade the space and exploit any vulnerabilities.
Unfortunately, not many businesses take their cybersecurity seriously. Varonis reported that 53% of companies found more than 1,000 of their sensitive data files accessible to every employee. In 2018, 62% of businesses faced social engineering and phishing attacks. In 2019, RiskBased recorded 3,813 data breaches, which exposed over 4.1 billion records in the first half of the year. In 2018, enterprise cyber infections rose by 12%.
After perusing such alarming statistics, companies do scramble to place security measures and consult a top IT security firm. However, the alarm wears off after a short period of time and companies fall into perilous complacence about their cybersecurity. Even more unfortunate are businesses that are prey to dangerous delusions about their internet security.
So let’s talk about some delusions that your business should instantly do away with.
- Business is too Small to be on a Cybercriminal’s Radar
One of the most common delusions small and medium level businesses are plagued with is that their business is too small to be on a cyber-attacker’s hit list. And there won’t be any substantial gains to incentivize such an attack. In a survey, 60% of small-scale businesses believed that they aren’t a likely target.
Substantial gains for hackers or no, you are at a loss if you don’t take your internet security seriously. Cybercriminals do not take the scale of your business into consideration. Well, of course, every criminal wants to hack into Google and Apple’s repositories, but what is the success rate of these attacks when these giants have equally robust security measures?
Cybercriminals know that your small business does not have any sophisticated level of security and will be much easier to hack into and get away with it. This dangerous delusion makes one-in-five small businesses experience cyberattacks and data breaches.
- Only the IT Department is Responsible for the Cybersecurity
Now you know that every size and type of business is vulnerable to cyberattacks, you may as well get familiar with how to go about your company’s cybersecurity.
Almost every other business thinks that its security lies solely in the hands of a functioning IT department and a Chief Information Security Officer, risking to venture into the deluded realms.
Almost every device connected to the internet is at risk. As every employee is provided an internet-connected device and access to company’s data, a company is faced with multiple vulnerable points. And one single entity is not enough to defend these vulnerabilities; the entire organization will feel the burn if there is a breach.
An organization’s cybersecurity is a consolidated effort, which requires all employees to pitch in and maintain its defense shield. Sure, the IT department can place multiple anti virus, malware, spyware, and ransomware on all devices, but they cannot guarantee the human factor. All employees should be trained in the maintenance of security such as watching out for suspicious emails and reporting them to IT.
- Our Industry is Not Vulnerable to Cyberattacks
We have seen so many movies and TV shows, where tech companies are at the risk of cyberattacks that we have started to believe that fallacy. Any business not falling in the tech industry thinks that they are foolproof safe from hackers. What no one fathoms is that cybercriminals can exploit aby device or system connected to the internet.
You may not have an e-commerce website, but your communications network and other management software are powered via the internet. It is enough reason to scramble for robust security defenses.
- Our Protection is Foolproof
Having an IT department or a working security software seems like a reason enough for a business to think that they are invincible. In the digital realms, there is no such thing as 100% secure. If businesses are racing to create advanced security tools, cybercriminals are not even two steps behind, aiming to crack those new tools.
Cyber protection is a constant job, you cannot afford to be complacent. It’s essential that you keep multiple layers of protection along with educating your employees on cybersecurity.
- Cyberattacks Come from the Outside
Who do you think is attacking your business? A shady hacker residing in a basement with dozens of computer screens? That’s what pop culture makes us believe. However, that’s not the case. The biggest security vulnerability for every business comes from the inside.
Your employees may either accidentally or intentionally put your data at risk. Employees are usually not aware of data ownership and responsibility. Hence, they unwittingly expose the business to the breach. That’s why employee training in these matters is important.
Some employees tend to intentionally allow for a data breach due to personal gains. A report by Security Intelligence claimed that nearly 75% of security breaches were from insider threats. So keep an eye on the outsiders, but a closer eye on the insiders too.
- We Do Not Need Testing and Training
Testing and training are long drawn out processes, which no one wants to bother with. Companies do not care enough about organizing them, and when they do, they are half-hearted attempts to appease the formality.
This apathy serves opens up potential vulnerabilities for hackers to crack onto and wreak havoc on the organization’s network. The company needs to perform adequate penetration and vulnerability management tests to unearth any potential avenues for data breaches.
All in All…
If you are prey to any of the dangerous delusions, then it’s high time that you quickly grow out of those or face the security repercussions. Most times breaches occur in places where it’s least expected, probably a result of complacence. Don’t fall into such a state. It’s better to go overboard with security today than to be sorry about the breach later.
Baldwin Jackson is a successful digital marketer with expertise in search engine optimization and content marketing. The perfect balance of his analytical ability and creative thinking is what sets him apart from other practitioners in the digital marketing realm. He has helped a lot of small and medium-sized businesses in crafting their digital marketing strategies that are not only cost-effective but delivers results as well.
Baldwin is also a proud father of two kids and a Sports enthusiast. When he is not working, you will find him watching ESPN and NFL network. He has been able to get an amazing package on his favorite channels from Buytvinternetphone.com.
