It is well documented that cybercrime is a growing concern for organizations of all sizes and across all industries. However, logic would dictate that certain types of organizations are more high-profile targets than others. The reality is that cybercrime will plague everyone at one point or another. Even if organizations deploy the recommended frameworks, standards, and models1 to uphold the best possible cyberhygiene, many leaders frequently espouse cyberthreats as an inevitability rather than a possibility.
Furthermore, as organizations increasingly embrace digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and generate innovative solutions, the cyberthreat landscape continues to evolve. Even with the most rigid defenses and proactive approaches, organizations are never exempt from risk, as evidenced by recent trends in ransomware, cloud security, and AI.2
AI-powered tools have revolutionized everything from content creation and organic search3 to data visualization and threat detection,4 but they have also introduced a wealth of new security considerations. Cybercriminals are now using AI to create more sophisticated hacking tools and mechanisms, while organizations are trying to leverage it to counterbalance the threat factor. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many myths about cybersecurity continue to persist, leaving organizations more in the dark about the stark realities of their cybersecurity posture and potentially creating new vulnerabilities they may not have considered.
With this in mind, it is prudent to examine and debunk some of the most overt cybersecurity misconceptions and exaggerations circulating today and provide accurate information. This empowers organizations to reinforce their infrastructure and connected assets and technologies.
Myth #1: Large Enterprises Are the Primary Targets
Reality: While high-profile breaches at major enterprises make headlines, there is a common misconception that cybercriminals exclusively target multinationals and that no small business is ever going to be in their sightlines. However, while data breaches and incidents at large enterprises are highlighted fervently in the press, cyberincidents can happen to any and every organization.5 The democratization of attack tools means that automated attacks can simultaneously target thousands of potential victims, regardless of their size or sector.
Many organizations incorrectly believe they are too small to be targets or that they have nothing of value to offer an opportunistic cybercriminal. Despite this, studies show that smaller organizations often face a higher frequency of attacks because they typically invest less in security infrastructure and training. Social engineering attacks alone are 350% more common for employees in small organizations6 than in larger ones, which can invariably be attributed to lower security budgets and a lack of in-house personnel compared to larger counterparts.
Myth #2: Our Industry Is Not a Priority Target
Reality: Every industry possesses valuable data. Based on recent research, malicious actors are targeting industries ranging from government, public sector, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing to technology, ecommerce, finance, education, and professional services enterprises. Small businesses are included in these findings.7
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm servers, affecting the public sector as well as government and educational institutions. Simultaneously, malicious actors can launch calculated attacks on supply chains that underpin the utilities, energy, and manufacturing sectors, all of which are connected in some capacity.
The value of data that organizations hold varies by sector, each possessing a different risk profile depending on the intended criminal act. Whether it is identity theft of leaked patient records, stealing sensitive info from government officials for espionage or blackmail, deceiving users to gain unauthorized access to financial records, or deploying ransomware to lock critical systems and extort high payments for the release of confidential intellectual property or client information, no enterprise is ever 100% risk-free.
Myth #3: Security Tools Provide Complete Protection
Reality: No single security solution or combination of tools can guarantee complete protection. Antivirus software and strong passwords are not sufficient to protect an organization’s entire estate, whether it is cloud-based, on-site, or a mixture of both. For instance, an analysis of Windows Defender as a siloed solution was deemed insufficient as a cybersecurity measure, concluding that multi-layered approaches are integral.8 Cybersecurity threats evolve constantly, and many bypass traditional security measures through social engineering or by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities.
Organizations need a multilayered defense strategy that combines best-in-class technical controls, advanced system and network monitoring, incident response planning, business continuity and disaster recovery procedures, regular third-party security audits and assessments, and comprehensive staff training to upskill, refine their cyberknowledge, and reduce their threat exposure.
Myth #4: Cybersecurity Is Solely IT’s Responsibility
Reality: While IT departments play a crucial role in enforcing strict cyberhygiene across an organization, effective cybersecurity requires participation and input from every user, regardless of the department.
It is often touted that cyberincidents are predominantly the result of human error. Proofpoint’s 2024 Voice of the CISO report found that 3 in 4 (74%) chief information security officers (CISOs) pinpoint human error as their top security risk, which is higher than the 2023 figures (60%).9
The report underscores the cyberskill gaps between those at the top of an organization and those lower down the rungs. Data is often lost at the hands of employees, whether through negligence or carelessness, and it would be naive to suggest that IT departments are responsible for overseeing every employee’s actions, both at work and at home.
Meanwhile, the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024 report suggests that criminal insiders are getting more sophisticated with their attack methods and vectors.10 The report also suggests that while humans may make mistakes that lead to breaches, attributing fault is unnecessary because the responsibility lies with organizations to ensure staff are upskilled and prepared enough to be entrusted with upholding security hygiene. However, that does not change the fact that even the most resilient teams may not see threat actors slip through the proverbial cracks. Organizations must be proactive in their cyberpolicy development, with security-first mindsets permeating every level of the organization, not only those in IT and at the top.
Myth #5: Compliance Equals Security
Reality: Meeting industry compliance requirements does not exempt an organization from further scrutiny or assessments, nor does it suggest their security is the best it could be. Compliance frameworks provide valuable baseline controls, but they should be viewed as the minimum requirements upon which to build. Every organization has specific risk and vulnerabilities to address, regardless of the complexity of its incumbent setup. Frameworks cannot intuitively account for specific custom integrations between tools and systems, so further protocols must be established.
Organizations would be best served to view compliance as the starting point, not the goal. Security programs should always be risk-based and adaptable to emerging threats, rather than simply deployed as check-box exercises. Organizations that adopt this methodology and approach will be in a prime position to achieve greater long-term security maturity.
Looking Ahead at the Evolving Threat Landscape
If there is one thing to look out for in 2025, it is the emergence of highly convoluted, covert, and disruptive cyberthreats. Not only have emerging generative AI chatbots, such as DeepSeek, been recently jailbroken, thus exposing their security vulnerabilities,11 but a recent notable incident saw GitHub’s Copilot AI assistant successfully manipulated12 in an ethical attempt to circumvent incumbent security restrictions. These incidents, having been unearthed in the early stages of 2025, illustrate the need for a more proactive, cohesive, united front if organizations are to withstand the proverbial cyberthreat onslaught. Understanding the truth surrounding these common misconceptions will be a pivotal first step.
While the outlook can seem fairly bleak on the surface, further advancements in threat detection, containment, and response will likely follow. If organizations develop an adaptable, flexible, and risk-based security framework and strategy, combining regular assessments, continuous monitoring, testing, governance, and training, they will find themselves in a stronger and more resilient position to weather the proverbial storm.
Endnotes
1 ISACA®, “Frameworks, Standards, and Models,” ISACA
2 Rende, J.; “Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2025,” ISACA, 6 January 2025
3 Walton, D.; “Google Doubles Down on AI With New Search Innovations,” Artemis, 17 May 2024
4 PALO ALTO NETWORKS.; “What Is the Role of AI in Threat Detection?,” Palo Alto Networks
5 Drapkin, A.; “Data Breaches That Have Happened in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 So Far,” 29 January 2025, Tech.co
6 Palatty, N.J.; “51 Small Business Cyber Attack Statistics 2025 (And What You Can Do About Them),” Astra, 9 January 2025
7 Cyble, “Top 10 Industries Targeted by Threat Actors in 2024,” 19 December 2024
8 Guardian Digital, “Why is Windows Defender Alone an Insufficient Cybersecurity Solution?” Guardian Digital, 2024
9 Proofpoint, “Proofpoint’s 2024 Voice of the CISO Report Reveals That Three-Quarters of CISOs Identify Human Error as Leading Cybersecurity Risk,” 21 May 2024
10 IBM, IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024
11 Nelson, N, “DeepSeek Jailbreak Reveals Its Entire System Prompt,“ DarkReading, 31 January 2025
12 Andryszek, W, “How Attackers Use AI To Spread Malware On GitHub,” GitProtect, 18 March 2025
Chester Avey
Is a freelance writer based in the United Kingdom with more than 20 years of experience in IT. He has extensive knowledge of today's evolving tech industry and enjoys writing authoritative articles and up-to-date opinion pieces on a wide range of topics including digital marketing trends, AI, cybersecurity, software solutions, and ecommerce.