Our news feeds are constantly scrolling with stories of major brands falling victim to cyber-attacks. It is easy to look at those headlines and think, "Well, at least I’m not them."
However, that mindset is dangerous. Many Irish businesses are operating under a set of outdated assumptions. These myths create blind spots, leaving organisations exposed to attacks that could have been prevented with simple, well-planned controls.
Here are the most common cyber security myths and what they actually mean for your business.
Myth 1 We’re Too Small To Be Targeted.
This remains the number one misconception. Just because the news feeds feature attacks on major brands and large enterprises, this doesn’t mean that cyber criminals only go after large enterprises with big budgets and valuable data. The reality is very different.
Attackers now automate the vast majority of their activity. They scan the internet for known weaknesses, open ports, unpatched systems and reused passwords. If you have a digital footprint, you are a target. And because SMEs often have fewer controls in place, they are far easier to breach and in fact more likely to fall victim than the large enterprise.
Reality: Size doesn’t matter. Vulnerability does.
Myth 2 Antivirus Is Enough.
There was a time when your antivirus solution did most of the heavy lifting and while an important part of your security stack, they are designed to detect only known threats. Modern attacks use techniques such as fileless malware, scripted payloads, credential theft and lateral movement that legacy antivirus simply cannot stop.
The modern threat landscape requires a layered approach that includes Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR), DNS filtering, email security, MFA and continuous monitoring.
Reality: Antivirus alone is outdated. Modern threats need modern protection.
Myth 3 Our Staff Won’t Be Tricked By A Phishing Threat.
Irish businesses are savvy, but attackers are using Generative AI to up their game. They are no longer sending emails filled with spelling errors from a "Prince in Nigeria." They can now clone writing styles, generate realistic invoices, and even use deepfakes to mimic voice or video. Everyone has a bad day. All it takes is one distracted employee to click a link that looks legitimate and land your business in a world of pain.
Reality: Awareness reduces risk, but training must be ongoing, practical and relevant.
Myth 4 We Have Backups, So We’re Covered.
Backups are very important, but they only protect your data, not your ability to operate. Many businesses discover during a crisis that:
- Their backups haven’t run for months
- The files restore, but the systems don’t
- Backups were encrypted during a ransomware attack
- Restoring everything takes days instead of hours
The bigger misconception is assuming that backup alone equals recovery. It doesn’t.
Backup = a copy of your data.
BCDR = your entire business restored and operational as quickly as possible.
A modern Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery solution protects your servers, applications, and critical systems, not just the files. It allows you to spin up your environment quickly, keep staff working and minimise downtime.
Reality: Backups help you recover data. BCDR helps you recover your business.
Myth 5 Passwords Are Enough Protection.
Weak, reused or shared passwords remain one of the most common causes of breaches. Even strong passwords can be stolen through phishing or credential stuffing.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is now one of the simplest and most effective controls Irish SMEs can implement, yet many still run key systems without it.
Reality: MFA is essential. Passwords alone are no longer a defence.
Myth 6 Cyber Security Is An IT Problem, Not A Business Problem.
Cyber security is a leadership issue. A breach affects operations, finances, reputation, customer trust and regulatory compliance. Senior teams must understand the risk and ensure the right processes, policies and investments are in place.
Reality: Cyber security is a shared responsibility across every level of the business.
Myth 7 We’ll Deal With It If Something Happens.
Responding to an incident without preparation is like trying to learn how to use a fire extinguisher during a blaze. Every second counts when the worst happens. The longer a breach goes undetected or uncontained, the more damage it does.
Many SMEs have no incident response plan, no clear reporting steps and no defined recovery process.
Reality: Preparation reduces downtime, cost and disruption.
Myth 8 Compliance Means We’re Secure.
Regulations such as GDPR and the upcoming NIS2 directive set minimum requirements but they do not guarantee protection. Compliance is not the same as operational cyber resilience.
Reality: Compliance is the starting point, not the finish line.
Myth 9 We Outsource IT, So Everything Is Covered.
Working with an MSP is a huge advantage but security responsibilities are shared. MSPs protect, monitor and advise but organisations must still maintain internal processes such as staff training, access management, approval workflows, and setting a strong security culture.
Reality: Outsourcing strengthens your defences but doesn’t remove all responsibility.
Myth 10 It Won’t Happen To Us.
Every organisation that has suffered a breach once believed this myth. With rising attack automation, AI-driven scams and supply-chain incidents, the question is no longer if but when.
Reality: Proactive security is essential to minimise risk and ensure resilience.
