It’s no secret that modern cyber threats are evolving at rapid rates, which is, ultimately, leading to many organisations becoming vulnerable. Yet, despite the headlines, there are several misconceptions that continue to shape how businesses think about security. Understanding what’s myth and what’s reality is essential for building genuine resilience and avoiding costly mistakes.
At Onecom, we believe that awareness is the first layer of defence. By separating fact from fiction, organisations can make more informed decisions about how to protect their people, data, and operations.
Cyber Myths
Myth 1: Small Organisations Are Exempt From Cyber-Attack Risk
Many smaller businesses assume they are too insignificant to attract the attention of cybercriminals. The truth is that attackers often see SMEs as easier targets, with limited defences and fewer dedicated security resources. In many cases, automated attack tools scan for vulnerabilities regardless of company size. Every connected organisation, no matter its scale, is a potential target.
Myth 2: Traditional Antivirus and Firewalls Offer Sufficient Protection
While antivirus software and firewalls are vital, they form only part of a modern cyber defence strategy. Today’s threats are often designed to bypass legacy tools through phishing, credential theft, or exploiting misconfigurations in the cloud. Businesses require comprehensive protection that encompasses real-time monitoring, endpoint detection, and proactive threat response to stay ahead of evolving risks.
Myth 3: Cybersecurity Is Solely the Responsibility of the IT Department
Cybersecurity is as much about people as it is about technology. Human error remains one of the most common causes of data breaches. Every employee, from entry-level staff to senior leaders, plays a role in maintaining security. Regular training, simulated phishing exercises, and clear reporting processes help build a company-wide culture of digital awareness. Training simulations make it easier to upskill your teams and reduce human error across your organisation, and make them your strongest defence.
Myth 4: Cybersecurity Solutions Are Only Necessary After an Incident Occurs
Some organisations take a reactive stance, believing that security measures only need investment once something goes wrong. The cost of recovery with this approach far outweighs the cost of prevention. Proactive measures such as threat monitoring, vulnerability management, and employee training are essential for minimising disruption and maintaining trust before a breach ever happens.
Myth 5: Security Investments Are a One-Time Capital Expenditure
Cybersecurity should never be viewed as a one-off purchase. Instead, it’s a continuous investment in resilience - a dynamic process that must grow and adapt in line with your business operations, technology stack, and the evolving threat landscape. Threats evolve daily, new vulnerabilities emerge, and compliance standards continue to shift. Continuous improvement and regular reassessment of security controls are necessary to maintain effective protection.
Cyber Realities
Reality 1: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is the Non-Negotiable Standard
MFA remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect user accounts.
By adding a secondary verification step, even stolen passwords become useless to attackers. Organisations that enforce MFA across all users dramatically reduce the likelihood of account compromise.
Reality 2: Backups Are Your Ultimate Resilience Plan Against Ransomware
Ransomware continues to dominate the threat landscape, but recovery is far easier when backups are maintained and tested. Reliable, isolated backups ensure that operations can be restored quickly without yielding to ransom demands. This simple discipline often determines whether a business experiences a minor disruption or a major disaster.
Reality 3: Speed of Detection Determines the Cost of the Breach
The faster a threat is identified, the lower the overall impact. Rapid detection limits downtime, reduces data exposure, and helps contain operational losses. Investing in technologies that deliver visibility and fast response is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce breach damage. Solutions like our Cyber Protect provide real-time monitoring and rapid response to minimise the impact of potential breaches.
Reality 4: Regulatory Compliance Is a Driver, Not the Finish Line
Achieving compliance with standards such as Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, or GDPR is a strong foundation, but it should not create a false sense of security. True cyber maturity goes beyond ticking boxes - it’s about continuous improvement and proactive risk management.
Reality 5: Cyber Threats Often Lurk Inside Your Systems
Insider threats (whether malicious or accidental) represent a significant share of security incidents. Continuous monitoring, privileged access controls, and staff awareness programs are vital to detect and prevent internal risks before they escalate.
The Reality of Partnering With the Right Provider
No matter the size or sector, every organisation benefits from working with trusted experts who understand the evolving risk landscape. At Onecom, we help businesses build stronger security foundations by aligning connectivity, collaboration, and cloud with cyber resilience. Our approach is built around practical protection: securing what you already rely on, whilst ensuring your business can adapt to whatever comes next.
Want to know how secure your organisation really is? Speak to your Onecom Account Manager or Learn More Here.