Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the pillars for the successful execution of a business model and also one of the significant hurdles faced by an organization today. Although cybersecurity protocols form an integral part of a company's infrastructure, it sometimes falls short. In the midst of cybersecurity complexities, news about cybercrimes, and anonymous attacks by hacker groups, myths are blooming in the business worlds too. While these myths are propagated due to mistrust, lack of knowledge, and miscommunication, it is essential to dispel them before they cause any further damage. Here are the top 5 list of common cybersecurity myths encountered daily:

1. Threats are external: Many people believe that cyber threats originate from external sources. It is a common misconnection that the majority of attacks come from third-party apps. According to a research, insider threats can amount to 75 percent of data breaches. This is mostly due to human error and lack of judgment. Even an infected flash drive is enough to compromise the entire organizational system. Therefore it is vital to have a system that can detect and monitor such instances.

2. It won't happen to me: It is also one of the illusions that companies are targeted as a whole, and hence there is a minimal chance of personal attack. They also think that not withholding any sensitive information marks them safe, but the reality is different. Irrespective of the reasons, cyber-attacks occur every 39 seconds. There is never knowing who might be next. This also applies to small and medium businesses, as they are bull's eye for bigger targets. With viruses, malware attacks, and other threats rising in terms of complexity and number, it is better to have a plan to mitigate these threats and have a proactive approach towards the defense mechanism of the company or individual system.

3. I have a strong password: While a strong password is always recommended, but that does not mean it cannot be leaked too. Hence it is safe to change them regularly. Also, malware attacks can easily breach password security, primarily if the same password is used to protect every form of the system across the company.

While a secure password is an excellent way to start having MFA (multi-factor authentication) and 2FA (two-factor authentication) are great ways to bolster security. Adding another layer of protection by requesting a code from a linked MFA app or a confirmation email keeps users secure if their usernames and passwords are leaked.

In the two-factor-authentication, it is made up of 2 parts. The first is your strong password or PIN, and the second is another identification factor like an item the user has in his or her possession, a fingerprint, a voice pattern or another characteristic that is difficult to duplicate.

Besides, password-protected Wi-Fi that has secure wireless encryption like WPA or WPA2 is not safe from cyber-attacks either. However, using good reliable VPNs can solve this issue to a greater extent.

4. Antivirus Protections are enough: These softwares may help, but it is just the beginning of a comprehensive cybersecurity plan. Gone are the times when simple antivirus solution firewalls and other malware detectors were more than enough to secure an endpoint. Now a sound cybersecurity plan encompasses a rigorous employee training program that includes protection, detection, and response preparation along with safe practices for user behaviors.

One must also realize that having a perfect 100% security is impossible. A new threat emerges every minute. So, organizations must learn to be prepared and be able to observe, learn, and adapt to them. Also, look for cybersecurity plans that conduct assessment and penetration tests to identify the strong and weak areas in the security framework.

5. It is a headache for the IT department: While IT has a big responsibility when it comes to implementing and reviewing policies to keep companies safe on cyber grounds, maintaining a business cyber safe requires a constant effort. Actual cybersecurity preparedness falls on the participation of every employee, not just the IT department. Therefore, proper training and skill are to be imparted to enable employees to secure themselves from malware and unsafe websites. They should know how to responsibly use technology to keep the systems safe when dealing with cyber-attacks in the first place.