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In communities across Kentucky and beyond, small businesses and local governments are the backbone of daily life, and cyber security myths threaten them and the people they serve.. They provide the essential services, jobs, and stability that keep our towns running. But too many of them are quietly sitting on a ticking time bomb, not because they don’t care about cybersecurity, but because they believe in myths that make them dangerously vulnerable.
When it comes to cyber threats, misunderstanding the risks can be just as damaging as ignoring them. Here are some of the most common misconceptions and how each one can have devastating consequences not just for the organizations themselves, but for the people who depend on them.
Cyber Security Myths #1: “We’re too small to be a target.”
This is the single most dangerous of the cyber security myths: Hackers aren’t just after big corporations; they’re after opportunity. Automated attack tools constantly scan the internet for easy targets, and small organizations often have fewer defenses.
A local government office or small business might assume its modest size protects it. Still, to cybercriminals, it’s the perfect victim: less security, more trust, and valuable data like Social Security numbers, payroll records, or tax information.
When these systems go down, it’s not just the organization that suffers; it’s the citizens waiting on building permits, the patients whose records go missing, or the local families whose paychecks are delayed.
Cyber Security Myth #2: “We already have antivirus software that’s enough.”
Traditional antivirus tools are like locks on a front door, necessary, but useless if the burglar comes in through the window. Modern cyber threats such as phishing, ransomware, and credential theft often bypass outdated security measures entirely.
Effective cybersecurity today requires layered defense, including firewalls, multifactor authentication (MFA), strong password management, encryption, employee training, and frequent software updates. Without these, even a single phishing email can compromise entire systems.
When a small-town payroll system or utilities network is encrypted by ransomware, the “cost” is far more than just dollars; it’s days or weeks of interrupted public services, angry residents, and a damaged reputation that can take years to rebuild.
Cyber Security Myths #3: “Our IT person handles that.”
Having an IT provider or “tech guy” is not the same as having a cyber security plan. Many small organizations assume that outsourcing IT makes them immune to cyber threats. Unfortunately, IT maintenance (like keeping printers online or fixing email) and cybersecurity risk management are two very different things.
A strong cyber security program involves policies, training, and planning, not just technology. Who in your organization is responsible for backing up data? How do you decide how to respond to an incident? Who checks that passwords aren’t being reused?
When no one owns those decisions, no one is truly accountable, and in the middle of a ransomware crisis, you’ll wish someone had been.
Cyber Security Myth #4: “Cyber Security is too expensive.”
Small organizations often believe the cyber security myths that cyber security is an optional expense, something to tackle “when the budget allows.” But cyberattacks cost far more than prevention ever will.
The average ransomware recovery for small businesses now exceeds $500,000, including downtime, lost data, and reputation damage. For a county government or a small utility, that can mean cutbacks, service interruptions, and taxpayer bailouts.
In reality, there are affordable, even free, steps every organization can take: implementing MFA, requiring regular password updates, encrypting sensitive data, training employees on phishing awareness, and maintaining offline backups.
Cybersecurity isn’t about spending more; it’s about spending smarter.
Cyber Security Myth #5: “It’s a technology issue, not a people issue.”
Technology is only as strong as the people using it. Human error remains the leading cause of cyber incidents. A well-meaning employee clicking a phishing link or using a weak password can undo thousands of dollars in technical defenses.
That’s why employee training, regularly, not just once a year, is crucial. Staff need to know how to spot suspicious emails, verify unusual requests, and report concerns quickly.
When a city clerk’s single click locks up a county’s entire system, it’s not just an “IT failure.” It’s a human training failure that affects every resident relying on local services.
Cyber Security Myth #6: “If something happens, we’ll just restore from backup.”
Backups are critical, but they only help if they’re current, secure, and tested. Many organizations discover too late that their backups were also infected, incomplete, or stored in the same network that was encrypted.
Ransomware groups are now specifically targeting backup systems, knowing they’re a lifeline. True resilience means maintaining offline or cloud-isolated backups, regularly verifying them, and rehearsing disaster recovery steps before a real crisis hits.
Without that, an organization’s “backup plan” can become a tragic false sense of security.
Myth #7: “It won’t happen to us.”
This one combines all the others into a single, dangerous mindset. It’s easy to believe that cyberattacks only happen in the headlines of big cities, major hospitals, or Fortune 500 companies. But every week, small governments and businesses are hit. Many never make the news, yet their communities feel the pain just the same.
The truth is simple: cybersecurity is no longer optional. Every organization, regardless of size or mission, has data and systems that criminals want. And every community has citizens who depend on them to keep that data safe.
The Ripple Effect: When Cyber Security Myths Hurt Communities
When a cyber attack hits a local government, vital services can grind to a halt, from emergency dispatch to water billing. Residents can’t pay taxes, renew permits, or access records. When a small business goes down, employees lose paychecks, customers lose trust, and the entire local economy feels the shock.
These aren’t just organizational problems; they’re community problems. Cybersecurity isn’t about protecting machines; it’s about protecting people.
Building a Smarter, Safer Future
Every small business and local government can take meaningful steps right now:
- Conduct a basic risk assessment.
- Require multifactor authentication for all accounts.
- Back up critical systems offline.
- Train employees to recognize phishing attempts.
- Develop an incident response plan before you need one.
Cybersecurity may seem complicated, but at its heart, it’s about preparation, awareness, and responsibility. The misconceptions are what make us vulnerable. Replacing them with informed action is what makes us secure.
Commonwealth Sentinel will help you face your organization’s growing cyber security threats. We can assess your existing IT security and collaborate with your team to safeguard your data and assets. At Commonwealth Sentinel, we stay focused on cyber security so you can focus on other things. Contact us today or sign up for a free consultation.
At Commonwealth Sentinel, we are focused on cyber security so that you can focus on other things.