A quick search of “cybersecurity” on Google will bring a broad range of topics to your screen, from the definition of the word to different anti-virus software systems and more. You can read all kinds of information on cybersecurity, but not everything you read (or hear) is true.
It’s important to know what’s true, what isn’t, and what issues should concern you. Here are three cybersecurity myths debunked.
MYTH #1: My IT team takes care of all the cybersecurity. I don’t have to do anything else.
This is not true. While your Information Technology (IT) team does take action to prevent cybersecurity threats from occurring, the work doesn’t stop there. You also have a role to make sure that cyber threats such as hackers and viruses are not able to get through. Each of us is the front line of defense. Learn to recognize and delete suspicious emails, links or attachments before opening them.A study by CompTIA, a non-profit trade association in the information technology industry, found that “human error accounted for 52% of the root cause of security breaches.” Another recent report from Verizon on data breach investigations states “63% of confirmed data breaches involved weak, default or stolen passwords.”
MYTH #2: Hackers only care about large, “rich” companies, so my small business/church/ministry is safe.
Wrong. The size of your ministry does not necessarily determine your chances of being hacked. A 2015 report from HM Government, the British government, “confirms that 74% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported a security breach.” Findings also show that 90 percent of large businesses also suffered a security breach.It’s essential to the continuity of your ministry to acknowledge that you could be targeted and therefore you must prepare for a potential attack.
MYTH #3: I don’t need to invest in cybersecurity measures or insurance, I’ve never been hacked.
False. A typical statement in the technology security industry is, “It’s not if you will be hacked, but when.” That’s why it’s important to have a proactive approach to cybersecurity instead of reactive. This proactive plan should include training, system upgrades on outdated software and an established protocol of what to do if your systems are compromised. A cyber liability insurance policy can provide the coverage you need and minimize losses.Be Proactive Now and Save Money Later
The average cost of a data breach in 2016 was reported to be four million dollars by IBM, a multinational technology company. This number is up from $3.8 million in 2015. The company also reported that the average cost per record breached is $158.IBM’s report also found that organizations that take proactive measure save money in the long run. Appointing a chief information security officer saved $7.00 per record. Extensive use of encryption saved $13.00 per record.
These numbers explain why it is important to recognize that these are real threats to your ministry. Here are three ways you can be prepared to protect your ministry correctly.
- Educate your leaders on cybersecurity through webinars and training, so that they can help keep hackers and viruses out. Train your leaders to be a good human firewall.
- Implement the use of anti-virus systems and keep them up-to-date.
- Invest in the safety of your ministry and get cyber liability coverage before a successful attack occurs.
ARM Cares
ARM cares about the safety and security of your ministry and its technology systems. That’s why ARM provides cyber liability insurance for church organizations and many other resources to help you continue to learn about cybersecurity risks. Our Account Executives can provide an insurance application for your entity and offer support through the application process.For more information on cybersecurity, visit ARM’s Cyber Liability page.
