Top 5 Cybersecurity Myths

The digital world has offered small businesses around the world with numerous options for growth and protection. However, it has also allowed myths and lies about cybersecurity to fester and put businesses at risk of serious damage.

Let’s break down some of the myths about small business cybersecurity.

Myth #1 You’re Not Big Enough to Be a Target

People tend to think that because they’re not a global brand like Google, Facebook, or Sony, hackers won’t put in the effort to steal their small business’s secrets. However, more than 60% of small and medium businesses experienced a cyber attack in 2017, and your company could be a hacker’s next target.

Myth #2 Any Malware or Hacking Attempts Will Be Obvious

Hackers are stealth and are always coming up with new ways to steal your information. Keyloggers are malware that hide in the back of your systems and record all text typed and clicked. You won’t see anything wrong in your daily activities, but they will slowly be recording your passwords and other valuable information.

Myth #3 BYOD Device Policies Protect Your Systems

Having a “Bring Your Own Device” policy can save your business a lot of money, but this decentralized system actually does more harm than good. Because your computers will not have the exact same software, some users may be more at risk than others, and a hacker who controls one computer can easily take them all down.

Myth #4 Free Malware Software is All the Protection You Need

Free software products may seem like the solution to your security concerns and give you peace of mind, but these products are severely limited in their capabilities. While they may catch cookies and bugs during their full-system searches, antivirus programs should be incorporated into a full security suite, rather than used on their own.

Myth #5 The IT Department Will Save the Day

IT staff are crucial to the growth and success of any business, but they are only a small part of the company and cannot be everywhere at once. Overstretching your IT staff can put them at risk of burnout and will leave the rest of your staff unaware of the best security practices.

MicroAge has more than 35 years of experience defending businesses from security threats, and we know that an educated workforce is the best defense a company can have. Visit us online and see our many resources for security education for employees.