Five Biggest Security Myths Busted

Five Biggest Security Myths Busted

There are a number of common misconceptions about endpoint security.

The rise of the modern collaborative digital workplace means an increasing number of wireless, mobile and BYOD users on company networks. That’s why endpoint security has become an important strategy for protecting business data assets, but there are a number of common misconceptions about it. 

Here are the five biggest security myths:

1. “We’ve got antivirus so we’re good”

Don’t think just because you have an antivirus product installed on all your devices that you’re protected against malware of every kind. If the antivirus protection isn’t regularly updated, or you don’t do regular security scans, the latest iteration of malware can sneak in without you knowing. Same with periodic OS updates from each device’s manufacturer: you need to do them, but they can’t protect you against everything. Cybercriminal methods quickly have become so sophisticated that a dense patchwork of antivirus, anti-spyware, firewalls and intrusion detection won’t even slow them down.

2. “Endpoint security slows down workflow”

You may have heard that rigorous endpoint security protection tools get in the way of work because they slow down apps or interrupt people from doing their jobs. This myth probably arose due to the effect of bad implementations of security tools rather than any fault of the tools themselves. The best endpoint security tools are specifically designed to provide the necessary level of security without affecting the workflow or user productivity.

3. “Some protection is better than none”

If you were concerned about a burglary, you wouldn’t lock your front door but fail to arm your home security system. We all know that layers of protection are more effective. A layered approach to endpoint security is also the best one, and ideally includes a number of different elements, like network perimeter security, strong user authorization policies, end-user education, data access monitoring and disaster recovery protocols.

4. “All our endpoints are covered”

Even if you diligently apply security patches and put up a good defense-in-depth, don’t assume you’ve got security covered. No company is ever hackproof. Hackers work hard to find new ways to exploit software or human nature to get into an endpoint. And too many companies are not prepared for the consequences of a data breach. You should always assume a data breach will occur, and continuously monitor and strengthen your security posture.

5. “We’re too small of a target”

Huge corporations and big-name businesses that get hacked make the news most often, and so it can seem like only big companies are being targeted. Wrong. Cybercriminals actually seek out small businesses with ties to larger ones—in hopes of getting access to the larger companies. For example, in 2013, hackers breached a small HVAC service company and gained access to all the credit card data in a major retailer’s point-of-sale system.

About the Author

Jerry Young is the Principal Solution Architect at MNJ Technologies.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.

  • 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.