A cybersecurity attack is a powerful crime; one that can cost your business a lot of money if you don’t pay attention. In fact, cyber attacks are starting to feel like the pandemic — until it affects you personally, it’s hard to know it’s ramifications. 

There are plenty of myths around why cybersecurity isn’t worth it. But we’re here to tell you; it is! Here are a few cybersecurity myths we know today, and how you can change your mindset.

#1: Cybersecurity can be left to the IT guys. 

While IT does handle the majority of IT issues, this is not something that should fall completely on their lap. There are tons of small, but effective ways you can be proactive in protecting your organization’s security. Cybersecurity training is something that should be mandatory, or at least heavily enforced during employee onboarding. And this shouldn’t be a one time deal; cyber security training should be updated on at least a yearly basis, and employees should be encouraged to brush up on their knowledge. Cybersecurity is a team effort! 

#2: Only large companies like Walmart, AT&T, or Target can be hacked. 

While this would be a big win for the attackers, small businesses are actually the most prone to cyber security threats. This is because small businesses tend to have a smaller tech stack, and the organization doesn’t have the bandwidth or finances to put a cybersecurity force in place. Unlike larger organizations that have a whole team dedicated to things like this, small businesses might not have any idea how to combat an attack. They often won’t have the budget to fight back and recover, and aren’t always prepared to mitigate a threat efficiently, even if they do have the budget. 

#3: A good password is enough to protect me from a breach. 

Although a strong password can help protect your organization, it shouldn’t be the end all be all solution to cyber security prevention. Hackers get smarter and smarter every day, and even the toughest passwords can be uncovered. To truly have a secure system, you need to enable multi-factor authentication. 

#4: Your devices will tell you immediately when you’ve been attacked. 

While having that instant notification would be nice, the world is not that kind! Sometimes hacks can take months, even YEARS to uncover, especially for larger organizations. That’s why it’s always important to be proactive in your efforts. If you have an inkling that something isn’t right, report it to your superiors immediately. 

#5: Hiring an in-house or third party team of IT professionals will ensure that I never experience a cybersecurity attack. 

Although hiring a team or one person to oversee these initiatives, there will never be a way to 100% protect your systems. There is no miracle solution or cure to prevent cyber attacks. It is a constant threat, and new threats arise every day. The goal is not to achieve perfect security, but to have the right systems in place that empower your organization to react quickly, and mitigate before any permanent damage is done. 

Need cyber security assistance? Thinline Technologies has you covered! We offer a variety of tools to prevent your organization from experiencing a cyber attack. Contact us today to learn more.