Sep 8, 2021

When it comes to data protection, there’s no such thing as 100% safe and secure. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. Now, let’s dive into the concept of what it means to rethink your perception of cybersecurity and, more importantly, why. But before you can rethink it (“it” also means “IT” — information technology security), let’s explore some facts that may be influencing your present mindset.

Concerning Facts Associated with Cyberattacks

  • Cybercrime is up 600% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Cyberattacks can cost small businesses $200,000 on average, putting many of them out of business
  • More than 50% of all small businesses suffered a cybersecurity breach within the last year
  • The cybersecurity market is overcrowded, making it even more difficult to discern one provider from the other
  • There are dozens of solutions to consider, making it a challenge to prioritize your needs (e.g., email security, network security, cloud security, remote access)

Identify Your Present Perception of Cybersecurity

The facts are the facts, but your perception is all yours, and yours to change. Think about which of these statements resonate with you. Make a mental check of all that apply:

  • I know I need to protect my business from hackers, but I’m just not sure where to start
  • There are too many options, and I don’t really understand one from the other
  • I don’t have the budget for this
  • I don’t know who to trust
  • I’ve already got this covered; my business is safe and secure

Unless you only checked the last statement, keep reading.

Paradigm Shifts in History

When we rethink something or reimagine it, innovation can happen. This is the beauty of a paradigm shift. Paradigm shifts have been happening throughout history. Let’s use music as an example. Music has been around for thousands of years. What was music like before rock n’ roll? How did this revolutionary movement forever challenge how we think about culture, politics, religion? How about Einstein’s theory of relativity? It made us view space and time in an entirely different way. And do you remember what the world was like before the internet? Paradigm shifts can create mind shifts that can alter our perceptions. And these perceptions are often the drivers of our actions. 

What did we think about music before rock n’ roll even existed? Paradigm shifts have been happening throughout history and challenging how we think and live. Imagine what happens when you start to think differently about your small or medium business’s cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity Rethink Exercise

The following exercise is meant to help you think about cybersecurity in a way that you may never have before. Create your own paradigm shift about what it means to protect your business. Again, this will help you change your perception of cybersecurity. Start by following these steps:

  1. Imagine that your business is more than your business, it’s your baby (you can visualize an actual baby, a puppy, a kitten—anything that gives it a human quality that resonates with you)
  2. Recognize that your baby has basic needs:
    1. Food
    2. Love
    3. Protection
  3. Imagine that these basic needs translate to the following:
    1. Food = your clients (this is the nourishment that feeds your bottom line)
    2. Love = your people (those who help your business thrive, like staff, partnerships…you)
    3. Protection = your security measures (everything you do to keep your business safe and secure)
  4. Think a little more about what defines protection:
    1. What strategies are you employing to protect your baby? 
      1. Insurance
      2. Background checks
      3. An alarm system
      4. A good accountant
      5. Cybersecurity

So, wherever you were in your perception of cybersecurity and IT solutions:

  • I know I need to protect my business, and I’m just not sure where to start
  • There are too many options, but I don’t really understand one from the other
  • I don’t have the budget for this
  • I don’t know who to trust

May now have shifted your mindset to:

  • I need to protect my baby

This simple shift in thought may allow you to finally let go of all the mental chatter that gets in the way of being actionable and finding an IT solutions provider you trust. Just honor the basic need. I need to protect my baby. Period. That’s the paradigm shift. A rethinking. A new perception to help drive decisions that will keep your business safe and secure.

Was this article changed your thought about cyber protection? deskside can help about Data Protection and more.

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