Companies across the world are constantly faced with cybersecurity challenges, firmly cementing the topic as a vital consideration for all business decision-makers. However, there are a few common misconceptions that businesses still get wrong regarding cybersecurity. Join us in debunking some of the most common cybersecurity misconceptions and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to maintaining online security.
Misconception #1: Cybersecurity is Solely IT’s Responsibility
Cybersecurity is commonly thought of as the sole responsibility of the IT team. In reality, this viewpoint needs reconsideration. While the IT department undeniably holds a valuable role in combating hackers and securing your organization’s data, they should not be viewed as the one and only line of defense. Numerous cyber threats specifically target employees across all organizational levels, taking advantage of their often-limited awareness in network security issues.
Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to further prepare your entire workforce. Tools and practices such as dark web monitoring, security awareness training, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments emerge as useful cybersecurity solutions that will not stress your budget.
Here’s a brief overview of what these tools can do:
- Dark Web Monitoring: Dark web scanning is a service that will help your organization uncover if any of your credential data has been stolen and featured on the dark web, the first step to mitigating a potential cyber-attack against your business. By monitoring your domains and IP addresses along with channels frequently used by malicious actors, it can traceback leaked data and track down where it has ended up, as well as who may be using it to breach your systems.
- Security Awareness Training: Security awareness training for your employees is a valuable defense against phishing and other threats to your mission-critical data. Human error, ignorance, and negligence account for many successful breaches, with system users often being targeted by social engineering techniques that convince them to let their guard down. Cybersecurity training empowers your employees to spot the red flags of a suspicious email or malicious domain, and ensure they have the knowledge and tools to protect your systems from hackers and scammers.
- Penetration Testing: Penetration testing is a simulated cyber-attack that mimics the methodology and typical actions of a hacker, at all stages of a breach. Pen testing ensures that IT security professionals will be able to quantify the severity of vulnerabilities found and includes external and internal factors such as public-facing user information, support lifecycle age of solutions installed, and the ease as well as the speed at which identified gaps can be exploited.
- Vulnerability Assessment: A vulnerability scan will seek out weaknesses in your computers, apps, and network infrastructure that hackers could target. Vulnerability scanning software is a key measure designed to prevent networks from being hacked by revealing any weak points in critical areas. If you know what to improve, you can strengthen your weak points to keep hackers out.
Misconception #2: Passwords Are Enough
Overly relying on passwords, though a crucial basic security measure, covers only one aspect of safeguarding sensitive information and can leave your data vulnerable. Consider the rise of phishing attacks, where the effectiveness of a strong password becomes irrelevant if an individual unknowingly gives it away. It is becoming more evident each day that additional layers of IT security, along with maintaining a strong password, is necessary in having a strong cybersecurity presence. This is why multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become an indispensable addition to an ever growing number of businesses. MFA significantly enhances security by introducing an additional layer of security, effectively doubling the barriers that potential intruders must overcome to gain access to a network. In essence, the combination of a strong password and multifactor authentication forms a more comprehensive defense against unauthorized access and reinforces an overall effective cyber defense strategy.
Misconception #3: It is Possible to Secure all Log-ins
Securing all log-ins may be an aspirational goal within a cybersecurity plan, but it is important to maintain a realistic perspective. In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, techniques like social engineering create challenges that make it impractical to effectively secure every individual’s log-in credentials. However, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. Tools like dynamic access controls (DAC) are valuable options for Windows servers to mitigate damage resulting from such attacks, as they enable administrators to apply access-control permissions and restrictions based on well-defined rules. It’s necessary to remain vigilant and avoid complacency when protecting your network, and keeping realistic goals can help you achieve this. By acknowledging the limitations and taking advantage of the potential of modern technologies, organizations can enhance their overall cybersecurity presence and more effectively adapt to the dynamic nature of potential threats.
Stay Informed with SWK Technologies
To stay ahead of the curve, SWK Technologies can help you keep up to date with any and all information relating to the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity and IT support. Don’t hesitate to contact us today and connect with a team of cybersecurity experts, or simply gain access to our library of webinars and training material. Staying informed is the first step toward building a robust and effective cybersecurity strategy, so make sure to take that step with SWK.