9 Myths of Security Implementation

Cyber-security experts have been running around educating people on cyber-attacks and threats but the most interesting bit is the number of misconceptions that businesses have in the realm of implementing cyber security solutions. Take an example of the number of companies that carry the myth that security implementations are expensive or perhaps difficult to handle and as a result, they resort to cheap, ineffective methods that end up being costly and time consuming. Well, it is no secret that hackers today have evolved their techniques and recognized that cyber-attacks are highly lucrative. Think of it this way, hackers might access your sensitive data such as credit cards or SSN details and sell them in the black market. Therefore, it is time to look at some of these misconceptions and dispel them or in other words let us straighten things up!

Myth#1 — It is expensive to upgrade security systems

Truth: It is a common assumption that an upgrade necessarily means that more money will be spent in fact; in some cases, the cost might even be lower! However, any company looking to upgrade their security systems has to think of the cost of the upgrade and budget for the process. If your company still prefers to use outdated security systems that can easily be hacked into then it might suffer a greater cost at upgrading the system and recovering back the data but not forgetting the difficulty in winning back the trust of your clients. This implies that constantly updating the system is cheaper as it relates to bug fixing and update of software and hardware. In other words, it will be expensive if you wait for years to update your system or to fix a system that has already been breached. i.e. Enabling HTTPs on your website will cost thousands but in real scenario, it is available at fair price nowadays, which will help you protect data traveling between two ends.

Myth#2 — Changing Security Solutions can lead Vulnerability to cyber-attacks and Cause Downtimes

Truth: It is myth that updating the security system or installing a new one might create such a loophole. Organizations want systems and security solutions that function around the clock to ensure that the data is safe. Leaving the business exposed for even the shortest period might open up a spot for cybercrime-loopholes for stealing intellectual property, financial information and other data that would be a massive blow to any organization. Policies should also be reconfigured before the security replacement starts so that the set guidelines can be followed to the latter. This ensures that the new system is well installed and functioning properly as soon as possible without leaving the organization vulnerable to attacks.

Myth#3 — IT personnel have little time to implement a new Security Solution

Truth: It is true that the IT department is an essential department in a company and most of times they have projects going on and deadlines to meet. However, the beauty is that these solutions can be made easy by managing the implementation through a single console! As a result, business leaders in companies are usually worried when there are new security implementations to be made by the already busy department. This is where the incumbent solution is eliminated and replaced by a new solution with all this being managed from a single location. The process will ease the work of the IT department and save on operation costs.

Myth#4 — Security implementation will affect end user experience.

Truth: Most companies are scared of hurting customer experience during security implementations and rightly so. To alleviate of this, it is vital to use the right tools and plan appropriately when performing security implementations-especially, where end users are involved. System updates especially in data centers should be scheduled during off-hours to avoid slowing down the company operations and inconveniencing the clients and employees altogether. Even automation of security implementation will also cut manual efforts to be invested install the system.

Myth#5 — A Company will not get support after the implementation

Truth: This will depend on the vendor you choose but in most cases, basic support is provided to your company after the security solution has been offered. The main cause of worry is that there is no continuous support after implementation. On the other hand, companies that want higher levels of support that should have the option of purchasing the support that best suits the needs of the company. Many software providers frequently release updates than other providers especially in security products that are another reason from the security perspective while choosing a vendor.

Myth#6 — Information security is not that important

Truth: Of course, if you have never been a victim of cyber-attack then you will not take the matter seriously. However, the risks are very real just google around and check reports on the vice to get a glimpse of the size of the problem. Therefore, it is up to you to take initiative and protect yourself and your customers before to become a victim. Poor cyber security leads to attacks, malware and phishing attacks, your personal or company data can be lost or corrupted and your reputation will be ruined. Even attackers target smaller businesses as they have little expertise, policy, and tools to prevent security attacks.

Myth#7 — I am not big enough to be attacked

Truth: Just because your company is small, it does not give you a free pass against an attack. Cyber criminals do not necessarily look at the size of the company but the protection that they consider. For example, interconnected systems can randomly be attacked using automated attacks to identify vulnerabilities and if there are loopholes in your systems, you will surely be compromised. If these systems have no useful information, attackers can use it for performing other system attacks.

Myth#8 — I can protect myself with an Anti-virus

Truth: Let us just say an antivirus is just one-step towards protection but you need to do more! Antivirus cannot prevent many forms of attack from entering into computer. If you use the internet for example, you are exposed to many forms of attack e. g Man in the Middle attacks, SQL injection, and XSS attack. In some cases, spyware can be installed to monitor what you do online and worse even, to control your system(s) remotely. So products like SSL Certificates (enables HTTPS), Anti-Malware scanner, Vulnerability Scanner, SQL prevention Applications, etc.

Myth#9 — An attack cannot come from within the company.

Truth: This is a huge misconception that you have not enemies within the organization. When you hear of the word cyber-attack, you may be fooled that it is all about external threats only. Internal attacks can either be intentional say maybe a bitter employee sabotages the company’s security and data. In other cases, it can be accidental say an employee downloads malware from the internet. The company should therefore set strict rules on what sites are accessed over the internet and what kind of material is to be downloaded, additionally company should also focus on BYOD, BYOP and BYOT policies, to avoid attacks.

CONCLUSION

Cyber Security has grown to be an important facet of business life. Do not let yourself be a victim of cyber-attack with all the information that is provided to you and the wide array of protection options available. All it takes is proper planning and understanding the security needs of the company and you are good to get started!

Author Bio. :- Priya is a Technical SEO at Hopinfirst, a leading mobile app development company which provide best ios app development and Android app development Services.