Top 10 Common Cybersecurity Mistakes to Avoid

Cyber breaches cost organizations thousands of dollars each year, often due to common cybersecurity mistakes. 

Fortunately, preventing these common mistakes is simple. If you don’t have the skills within your organization, you can work with an outsourced managed IT service provider to safeguard your networks, applications, and other digital assets. 

We’ve compiled a list of the top ten most common cyber threats and mistakes to help you get a running start. 

Top 10 Common Cybersecurity Mistakes

1. Relying on Antivirus Software Alone

Antivirus solutions have been the gold standard in cybersecurity for many years. This technology scans company files for known viruses, and some products feature malware threat response services. 

As cyber criminals' tactics have evolved, so have the technologies used to stop them. While antivirus software is still helpful for modern businesses, an organization’s cybersecurity strategy should not rely on it alone. 

For example, endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) are solutions for detecting potential threats. They offer an automated response to protect businesses even after hours. 

2. 3rd party Risk Assessments

Organizations may think an IT breach will not happen to them. In fact, cyberattacks happen all the time. They may not even know that a hack has happened in their workplace until it is too late. 

This is why it is critical for organizations to understand their risk of breaches. A risk analysis can show where their IT security strategy is working and where it needs work. 

Understanding risk profiles can help organizations prepare for the unexpected. 

An independent third party is best for risk analysis. Organizations should select a reliable vendor who has extensive knowledge of audits and will perform an analysis that does not just follow a stated framework but personalizes it to the specific circumstances of the organization.

3. Over-Reliance on IT Departments

Cybersecurity may be within an IT department's wheelhouse. However, breaches affect everyone in the workplace, so cybersecurity strategy should be all hands-on deck. 

Often, the IT department is heavily reliant on it for threat detection and incident response; however, all employees should actively work to help prevent these breaches from happening in the first place. 

Employees need to be trained in cybersecurity basics. Some of the most common cybersecurity mistakes occur when employees use public Wi-Fi connections, click on phishing links, and fail to monitor webcams. 

It is also essential to inform employees about the organization's most critical assets. For example, when handling sensitive personal information, employees should be aware of the regulations surrounding it and avoid common cybersecurity mistakes.

4. Not Seeing Cybersecurity as an Investment

A robust cybersecurity system is an investment in an organization’s future; however, many business owners and executives might see it more as a financial burden.  

With fines for breaches and PR nightmares with customers, organizations need to realize that the benefits of a strong cybersecurity strategy far outweigh the costs. A sound plan could help them bypass their competitors and potential complications. 

Organizations will remain more competitive if their customers know their information will be protected. Prospective employees will also prefer those firms. They will know their work is secure on a highly protected system.

5. Falling for Cyber Scams

Cyber scams are on the rise and more dangerous than ever because businesses and employees are often unaware of common tactics. Some of the most important scams to look out for include phishing emails, malware and ransomware scams, and insider cyber threats. 

Phishing attacks are arguably the most common. These scams happen when cybercriminals send emails or texts to company devices. Users are directed to download an attachment or click on a link in the email or text, thinking the message is authentic. 

These types of criminals can be persuasive. For example, they may use another company's branding or email addresses to make the scam look more authentic. 

The COVID-19 pandemic also gave rise to new types of online scams. For example, many scammers pose as fake nonprofits or health organizations to prey on people's generosity. 

6. Not Updating Networks and Software

Did you know that failing to update your systems and applications can increase the risk of a breach? Updates to systems help reduce errors by including new updates to close loopholes and protect from vulnerabilities. 

With frequent software updates, organizations can stay ahead of cybercriminals. Without them, they could be at risk for coordinated cyberattacks by criminals who target companies that do not update their products regularly. 

7. Inadequate Employee Training

Basic cybersecurity training is not enough for employees anymore. Employees are often the first point of contact for hackers. 

• Formal cybersecurity policies should also be incorporated into employee training. Schedule training sessions during the workday to discuss and emphasize these policies. 

• Include clear rules in your formal policy related to using company devices on public wi-fi networks, downloading unauthorized software on company devices, and sharing company devices with non-employees. 

• Create an employee checklist to make sure businesses hit all the most important subjects. For example, teach workers how to dispose of data and equipment properly.  

• Train employees to back up this data in a way that won't compromise its security.

8. Lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA or multi-factor authentication (MFA), is a security strategy used to log into systems. 2FA creates an extra layer of security over sensitive data. 

To do 2FA, organizations need a password and a second login method. Some systems may require them to log into a system using an authentication code sent to an employee’s email or phone. 

Hackers cannot get the code needed to log in without access to an employee’s email or phone. The more difficult corporations make for cybercriminals to get into their systems, the less likely they are to try.

9. Reusing Passwords

Does your organization use the same passwords for all its systems? If so, two-factor authentication may not be sufficient protection. The same is true of shorter passwords and passwords that are not randomly generated. 

When creating passwords, try randomly generated strings of numbers and letters, uppercase and lowercase, while avoiding patterns in keywords like 'abcd' and '1234.' 

Experts recommend using passwords with 16 characters or more stored in password manager systems to retrieve login information more securely. 

Another factor to consider when creating passwords is who needs access to them. For example, do all the employees need access to every business system? If not, consider creating one-time passwords when non-regular users need access to a particular system. 

10. Underestimating  AI - Deep Fakes

The area we are most concerned about in GenAI fraud is Deepfakes. This technology has been out for a few years, but only in the last year has it become so impactful that it is causing real damage. Commercially, the use of GenAI Deep Fakes in videos has been documented to simulate executives and extract millions of dollars from a multinational firm in Asia. Domestically, there have been a of Deep Fakes with audio calls impersonating family members and extracting thousands of dollars in falsely created crises.  This tool for hackers will continue to improve, and the risk should be monitored closely.  

Best Practices to Avoid Cybersecurity Risks 

Organizations lose millions of dollars each year due to the above cybersecurity mistakes. You do not have to be one of them. It’s important to train your IT departments and employees, follow basic cybersecurity protocols, and shore up your operational cyber plans. The most impactful action an organization can take is educating its employees. The colleagues in a firm have the widest reach and have the most abilities to protect and contain risk. Educating your team can be done via online courses or bringing third party advisors to help explain the latest trends and prevention techniques.  

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