There are many threats to IT security that a company must face, and managing them properly is not usually an easy task.
As with other constantly evolving disciplines, cybersecurity requires considerable technical expertise to be able to accurately assess the risks to which our organization's assets may be exposed.
For this reason, it is logical to consider that the best option is to leave the task of advising, consulting or implementing effective security systems, which will help to protect our information systems, in the hands of specialists.
In order to make certain decisions, it is necessary to have a sufficient degree of technical understanding to be able to recognize whether the proposed measures are adequate or not.
In this sense, the fact of not having had major cybersecurity-related problems previously, or having bad technical advice, can lead us to oversimplify the scope of the solutions applied or to think that we have all the risks well covered, when this is not true.
We are aware of the damage that can be caused to an organization by not knowing these risks and not having an adequate cybersecurity solution that addresses them at all levels, whether they come from the external online environment or arise from internal activities.
For this reason, in this article we tell you 7 false beliefs about cybersecurity that you should get rid of if you want to protect the integrity of the digital resources that hold valuable information about your business.
Keep reading!
7 myths about cybersecurity
As we were saying, this situation of ignorance can lead us to make some unfounded statements such as the following:- My company has a firewall and my antivirus is up to date, so I doubt I need any further protection for my data.
- I’m using a well-proven cloud-based mail service, which means I’m adequately protected against phishing attacks.
- My Wi-Fi password is extremely strong. No one will be able to enter my network.
- No one cares about my data, so hackers won’t target me.
- Besides management, company users have severely restricted Internet access, meaning the risk is very limited.
- Our important information is on our servers, which employ advanced antivirus software.
- It is very easy to detect a malicious email.
After reading these seven assertions, you may consider them to be of little importance. You may even dare to blindly believe in them, but you would be mistaken. We assure you that if at some point you were to suffer a cyberattack, reflection on these points would make much more sense.
If, on the other hand, they have generated some concern or uncertainty, here you will find additional considerations that may help you to rethink your company's approach to cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity considerations
- Firewalls and antivirus software are definitely important for your infrastructure’s cybersecurity, but are of course not the only thing that matters. If we think about them, either solution may not be effective, depending on other factors we need to consider:
- Did you know that most threats go undetected when using a signature-based system such as the one used by conventional antivirus software? Do you know what an EDR is? Does your network’s antivirus software feature an EDR engine? Here an EDR is much more than an antivirus software because it continuously monitors and responds to complex threats.
- Did you know that today almost all Internet traffic is encrypted? Is your firewall set up to check for encrypted traffic to detect threats? If this is not the case, then its array of security features will do little, no matter how much you invested in the product you are currently using.
- Did you know that the leading cloud-based email providers suggest using third-party solutions for more effective protection for incoming emails? Do you think this would be the case if the basic solution already ensured sufficient protection?
- Did you know that after the human factor, wireless connectivity is often one of the weakest links in a company’s security? Do you think not a single one of the thousands of YouTube videos on how to a hack wireless network will work to compromise yours?
- Did you know that lists of compromised servers and networks are sold in bulk to hackers to carry out other malicious activities, including double extortion ransomware which they can use against you?
- Did you know that management is targeted most often during spear phishing attacks? Privileged access users represent the greatest security risk, and this is where hackers put in most of their time when preparing an attack.
- Where do users usually browse the Internet? On a server’s console or on a user’s PC? The gateway to our data does not have to be through one of our most valuable assets.
- Although phishing techniques have evolved and improved significantly over time, there are professionals who are well-equipped to detect them. But, are we sure that all of our staff are just as prepared to recognize them? It only takes one person to take the bait and all the data is compromised.
If you have read this far, it is possible that your perception of the importance of cybersecurity has changed and, if some of the questions or answers have caused you concern, we will try to ease your way to peace of mind through this ebook.
We hope that this article has been useful to you and that, with these tips, you manage to strengthen your company's IT security.
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