January 28th is Data Privacy Day, a celebration of the cybersecurity industry’s efforts to protect data from cybercriminals and unscrupulous businesses. It’s also a time to educate the public. You might think that you’ve got the basics of data privacy down and that you and your company are safe, but there are a lot of misconceptions out there that can put you at risk if you believe them.
Let’s take a look at some common data privacy myths so that you don’t leave yourself or your organization open to data breaches by believing cybersecurity misinformation.
Myth 1: Only large companies need to worry about data privacy
This is perhaps one of the most dangerous myths, as it causes small to medium-sized businesses to underspend on cybersecurity tools, thinking that they are too small to target. The truth is SMBs are a favorite target of cybercriminals and data thieves for just this reason. SMBs are easy targets, and automated attacks mean cybercriminals can target many organizations with little effort.
SMBs like yours should never think that they are beneath notice and are therefore safe. Stay vigilant, and utilize the latest cyber defense tools to protect your team and assets from the newest threats. You might think that you can’t afford the time and money needed to keep your data privacy measures strong and up to date, but thankfully this is also a myth.
Myth 2: SMBs can’t afford to keep up with all the new data privacy threats
Threats to data privacy continue to grow in sophistication, but so too do the countermeasures and their delivery methods. What this means for you is that cybersecurity tools are more affordable, and there is a whole industry of cybersecurity services companies that provide enterprise-grade protection at SMB prices.
A managed security services provider employs experienced professionals who handle all aspects of your cybersecurity posture, including:
- Implementing and maintaining firewalls, antivirus, data encryption tools, and more
- Providing regular maintenance and upgrades for data security tools to protect from the latest threats
- Detecting, responding to, and reporting on cybersecurity incidents
- Setting companywide and department-specific cybersecurity policies
- Training employees on cybersecurity best practices
Because these service providers have multiple clients who are SMBs just like yours, they can afford to only charge you a small monthly fee that is less than the cost of hiring an in-house cybersecurity expert.
Myth 3: I only have to follow the data security regulations of my country
This myth is also dangerous and costly, but the consequences come in the form of fees and penalties levied by governments instead of cyberattacks. Regulations on data security apply to the citizens of their jurisdictions, not the businesses that operate there.
This means that if citizens of a jurisdiction make use of your services and you do not adequately protect their data privacy, you are at fault and may be penalized or even prosecuted in extreme cases.
Some of the most common data privacy regulations you should be aware of include:
Ensure you are in compliance with these regulations if you do business in these jurisdictions.
Myth 4: We did data security training a while back, so we are good
Data privacy threats evolve and change over time, and so too do the data security regulations that we just mentioned. Working with old information leaves you vulnerable to new threats, and data security regulators don’t take “We didn’t know the rules changed” as an excuse.
This is why we have Data Privacy Day in the first place: to keep people educated and protected as the internet grows and changes.
If you need a knowledgeable cybersecurity services provider to bring your workforce up to speed and manage your data privacy tools for maximum effect, contact SpectrumWise. Our experienced cybersecurity team ensures your organization benefits from state-of-the-art data security measures for an outsourced price you can afford.
