“We’re too small to be a target.”
I hear this one almost every week.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so let’s do something a little uncomfortable. Let’s check what you know against what you only think you know. 😬
Bad advice sticks around. People repeat it until it sounds like fact, even after it’s outdated. And those blind spots are exactly what cybercriminals look for. The good news: once you spot them, they’re easy to close.
Myth 1: “We’re too small for anyone to care”
I wish that were true. Hackers don’t pick targets by size. They pick by opportunity.
Whether you’re a solo operation or a team of twelve, you hold things criminals want: customer data, bank access, and a doorway into your vendors and clients. An exposed account doesn’t care how many employees you have.
And even though your data may not mean much to them, they know that it means everything to you. And you’re willing to pay handsomely for it if held up for ransom.
Myth 2: “My team will spot a phishing email”
Typos and sketchy senders used to give scams away. Now the emails come polished and personal, and AI makes them easy to write or clean up perfectly.
Here’s my reframe: it’s not about spotting a bad email. It’s about spotting a bad request. Would this person really change payment instructions? Send a login link I’ve never seen? Ask for sensitive info out of the blue? If anything feels off, check before you click.
Myth 3: “We have MFA, so we’re covered”
I love multi-factor authentication. I’d never tell you to skip it. But it’s a tool, not a shield.
Attackers know people get tired. They fire off request after request, hoping someone taps “approve” just to make the buzzing stop. It’s called prompt bombing. MFA works best with other safeguards around it.
Myth 4: “Our backups have us covered”
Quick gut check. If ransomware hit tomorrow, could you restore your data? How long would it take?
A backup you’ve never tested is a hope, not a plan. Having backups isn’t the same as being able to recover. 😅 Knowing your real downtime can save you a lot of money and sleep.
Myth 5: “Cybersecurity is IT’s job”
Your IT team does a lot. But they can’t control every click.
Security decisions happen in accounting, in sales, at the front desk. One bad click can open the door. When everyone knows what to look for and who to ask, your team becomes part of the defense. 💪
Here’s where I get a little fired up: security awareness training isn’t a checkbox. It’s one of the best things you can do for your business. A team that knows what’s normal, and feels fine saying “this seems weird,” beats a shiny tool nobody understands.
Myth 6: “We’d know what to do if something happened”
It’s Tuesday morning. Several people can’t open their files. Now what?
Do they shut down their computers? Who calls IT? What if email is down too? When does the insurance company hear about it? Who tells your customers, and how?
Those questions are terrible to answer in the middle of a crisis. Write the plan now. Your recovery plan shouldn’t debut during the incident.
Myths feel comfortable
Here’s what I’ve learned: cybersecurity gaps rarely come from a missing product. They come from believing you’ve already got it handled.
Which myth did you nod along to? That’s the one worth a closer look.
Let’s take a look together
If any of this hit a little close to home, I’d love to help. No pitch, no pressure. Just a friendly 15-minute conversation about where you stand.
[Book a free discovery call] 🎯
Call me at (612) 380-4333 or visit us at https://cmitsolutions.com/twin-cities-west
Know a business owner who should read this? Send it their way. They’ll thank you later.