Cyber security is something that all too often stays on a to-do list. It’s one of those things that people know they should take care of, but don’t. Why? No one can be under the illusion that the hackers aren’t out there anymore, so what stops people from actually trying to protect their business from the almost inevitable? Often it’s because they don’t have time. But it’s also because there are so many cyber security myths around that people don’t comprehend the actual risks involved.
Today, we’re here to debunk some of those cyber security myths...
1 – My business is too small for a cyber attack
Wrong. This is one of the most common cyber security myths. It’s often not you that a hacker is after – it’s your clients. So even the smallest of businesses should take cyber security seriously. Imagine if you suffered a breach and the hacker got hold of one of your client’s details, and they too suffered the repercussions. While you may be willing to put yourself at risk, should you really be putting your clients at risk?
Another question you should be asking yourself is, if you’re a small business, do you have the funds to survive a cyber attack? The chances are that you don’t.
2 – Macs don’t get viruses
They do. It’s a common belief that one of the perks of Macs is that they don’t get viruses. While they used to offer better, but not total, protection from malware and ransomware, this is no longer the case. Hackers have got smarter and Macs are no longer ‘a safe place’. According to Malwarebytes, over 2018 and 2019, cyber threats on Macs went up by a staggering 400%. And the average number of threats per machine stood at 11 for Macs, compared to 5.8 for Windows devices. Always look to the stats to debunk cyber security myths!
3 – My email is backed up automatically
Nope. While people see the need to back up their computers regularly, many don’t realise that the same should be done for emails. Using cloud-based providers like Gmail and Microsoft means your data is stored in their servers, rather than your own. What you’re getting is the applications and any software or hardware updates – NOT protection for data produced by your company. And that includes emails. So what happens if a staff member accidentally deletes an important email? Or what if a hacker accesses your emails and locks your account? You won’t have access to any of your previous emails. As we mentioned in our recent blog, 90% of hacks start via email.
Yet, most businesses still don’t have proper procedures to protect their emails. Simple multi-factor authentication can offer immediate protection, and there are also many other solutions that can offer an extra layer. Datto SaaS Protection is one of the products we offer here at Somerbys IT – watch this short video to see how it works: Introducing Datto SaaS Protection.
4 – My insurance will cover it
Will it? It may be worth checking that your insurance does cover cyber security breaches, because they often don’t. Even when you have paid more for this type of protection, there will usually be small print that specifies that you have to have a certain level of cyber security protection in place, or else the insurance company won’t be liable to pay. Just like they wouldn’t pay out after a burglary at your home if you’d left the back door unlocked.
5 – Cyber security is too expensive
It really isn’t. Our clients are always pleasantly surprised when they receive a quote from us. People think investing in cyber security will set them back hundreds a month; in fact, prices start from as little as a couple of cappuccinos at Starbucks. And, as we always say, you may think cyber security is something you can’t afford to invest in, but it’s actually something that you can’t afford not to.
If we have debunked any cyber security myths that you believed in today, you may want to consider getting better protection for your business… which in turn will protect your clients. Instead of thinking of it as an extra expense, think of it as another layer of business insurance that will protect you in a worst-case scenario.
Our team at Somerbys IT is always happy to chat through the different options we offer, so feel free to get in touch today.