Top 3 Internet Security Myths

Top 3 Internet Security Myths

Top 3 Internet Security MythsThere is quite a bit of misinformation out there around Internet security, and it’s driven by a culture of fear, uncertainty and doubt. Though cyber threats are real and can strike anyone, anytime or anywhere, you can implement solid security by taking a methodical approach and identifying the right tools to meet your needs. A good place to start is by dispelling the more common myths security professionals encounter.

Myth 1: My defenses are already impenetrable.

You could have the newest, flashiest tool, every encryption and protection known to man, and a security policy that reads like “War and Peace,” and you still won’t be 100 percent protected.

The reality is that there is no silver-bullet solution to protect you from everyone; a determined attacker will eventually get in. Accept that fact and focus on detection and real-time mitigation instead of a prevention-only strategy. Develop suitable standards for every use case. This will allow you to loosen or tighten controls as dictated by the business, rather than applying an across-the-board policy.

Myth 2: We spend enough on security.

How do you know that enough is really enough? Gartner data shows that only 5 percent of IT spending goes toward security. That means just 5 percent of one department’s budget is responsible for the ultimate protection of every asset the business has: customer and employee data, intellectual property, revenue sources, B2B interfaces, supply chain, workflow, etc. Anything that you use to do business is a potential target.

Once this scope is understood, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) can start aligning risk and opportunity. This will give you a good indication on the value of your IT spending and where it should be allotted; the amount will be evident. No two companies will be the same.

Myth 3: We won’t get attacked.

This is more plain stubbornness than a myth. The “it-only-happens-to-other-people” defense won’t really help you when you’re facing an advanced persistent threat. You lock your car doors after you park however unlikely it is that the vehicle will be stolen, so why wouldn’t you do more than the bare minimum to protect your business’ most vital assets?

To take an honest look at your security risks, you must adopt the mindset that you are a potential target in order to develop a no-nonsense statement of risk and build a classification framework to force the business, as a whole, to confront all security requirements.

Any company that does a true analysis will be able to develop policies and deploy defenses that provide the best protection possible. There is no bulletproof solution, but you will have a much greater handle on which threats are most serious for your company, enabling you to set up analytics and monitoring processes to identify breaches quicker.

It isn't about just buying the latest gadget; it’s about adopting a security mindset that furthers the goal to make sales without being a burden on the business.

About the Author

Vann Abernethy is the senior product manager for NSFOCUS, where he is responsible for product planning and program execution for multiple security offerings.

Featured

  • Freedom of Choice

    In today's security landscape, we are witnessing a fundamental transformation in how organizations manage digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies, campus security teams, and large facility operators face increasingly complex challenges with expanding video data, tightening budget constraints and inflexible systems that limit innovation. Read Now

  • Accelerating a Pathway

    There is a new trend touting the transformational qualities of AI’s ability to deliver actionable data and predictive analysis that in many instances, seems to be a bit of an overpromise. The reality is that very few solutions in the cyber-physical security (CPS) space live up to this high expectation with the one exception being the new generation of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software – herein recategorized as PIAM+. Read Now

  • Protecting Your Zones

    It is game day. You can feel the crowd’s energy. In the parking lot. At the gate. In the stadium. On the concourse. Fans are eager to party. Food and merchandise vendors ready themselves for the rush. Read Now

  • Street Smarts

    The ongoing acceptance of AI and advanced data analytics has allowed surveillance camera technology to shift from being a tactical tool to a strategic business solution. Combining traditional surveillance technology with AI-based data-driven insights can streamline transportation systems, enhance traffic management, improve situational awareness, optimize resource allocation and streamline emergency response procedures. Read Now

  • The Progress of Biometrics

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.