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Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotting 4 Misconceptions

Maria Sadek
By Maria Sadek | Oct 29, 2021 11:19:02 AM

It’s an outdated mindset to think that cyberattacks are a “what if” scenario instead of a probability. This attitude leaves companies vulnerable and unaware of the very real threats posed to them. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and as the month comes to an end, we want to clarify four common misconceptions surrounding cybersecurity in the workplace.

Cybersecurity is the responsibility of the IT department

Cybersecurity is often thought of as a job for a company’s IT department; but human element is a major part of security risk. Employees engage in activity that possess a risk every time they log onto their computers. Coming across a suspicious link while browsing or receiving a spam email can happen to anyone. Those who work with confidential information may find themselves more likely to be a target. Having a strong cybersecurity culture is key to engaging employees with cybersecurity. A solid cybersecurity culture will include procedures and policies that ensure all employees meet the same security standards, such as every employee needing to change their password every 60 days. This will also show employees that they are a vital part in keeping your business safe. Updating your procedures and policies regularly will help reinforce your security mandates with your employees.

Cybersecurity does not require strategic planning

It’s an unsound argument that cybersecurity requires a reactive plan instead of a proactive strategy. Business leaders need to focus their attention on where their vulnerabilities lie. Once they do this, they can begin to understand the nature of risk and proactively deploy a successful strategy to protect their organization. If they wait until an attack happens, not only are they managing damage control, which is costly, but their reputation can falter because they failed to act sooner. In fact, on average, firms that suffer a cyberattack lose 1.1% of their market value and a 3.2% drop in their yearly sales growth rate. When boards choose to take a proactive approach, they will see that money spent on minimizing the risk of breaches and attacks is seen as a valuable investment rather than an inconvenient overhead. In the end, those who view security as a route to increased competitive advantage will be strongly placed for a win-win where better protection also leads to better business outcomes.

Antivirus is good enough

Although most people feel at ease after installing security software, they’re not nearly as air-tight in reality. While antivirus tools aim to shield your computer from a virus, it’s not enough to combat today’s complex cyberthreats. A better solution is Endpoint Detections and Response (EDR). Instead of focusing purely on blocking threats, EDR offers continuous endpoint monitoring and rigorous data analysis so businesses can gain a better understanding of how one threat or another infects an endpoint and the mechanisms by which it spreads across a network. Instead of remediating threats offhand, organizations can use the insights gained via EDR to harden security against future attacks. With EDR, security admins know the history of endpoint threat activity. Whenever there is cause for concern at an endpoint, admins can isolate, quarantine, or remediate a potential threat. There are no such options with regular anti-malware tools.

A digital transformation is not priority

Nothing can be further from the truth; a digital transformation is a top priority. Most organizations have already digitized their most pertinent data sets. They now use software systems, the cloud, and other platforms to enable their operations. Companies are leveraging these digital assets to shift and improve the way they do business and/or deliver services, a process called “digital transformation.” Forbes reported that 70% of businesses currently have a digital transformation strategy defined or are currently working on one. What’s more, 21% of enterprises said they’ve completed their digital transformation. However, as more focus is placed upon these digital architectures, it is increasingly important to ensure that they are properly secured.

Cybersecurity preparedness is paramount for ensuring business operations in the evolving cyberthreat landscape. As there are new data breaches and attacks daily, inadequate preparedness may result in catastrophic consequences. Chat with us today to see how we can provide your organization more proactive and comprehensive protection through our rigorous cybersecurity offerings and deliver a complete digital transformation.

Topics: Security, IT Services, Technology, Cyber Security, Microsoft, IT Management, Remote work

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