Cybersecurity in companies is becoming one of the biggest challenges of modern business. More and more organizations fall victim to cyberattacks – not only corporations but also medium and small enterprises. Unfortunately, many companies still make basic mistakes that expose them to data loss, downtime, and even heavy financial penalties (e.g., for GDPR violations).

In this article, we present the 10 most common IT security mistakes in companies that we observe on the market. We also show how to avoid them and what consequences come with a lack of proper safeguards.

Lack of a company password policy

Simple passwords, lack of regular changes, and reusing the same login across multiple systems are still everyday practice in many organizations. Employees write passwords in notebooks or store them in Excel spreadsheets.

Consequences:

• easy access for cybercriminals,
• risk of taking over the entire IT infrastructure with a single leaked password,
• GDPR violations in case of customer data leaks.

Solution: implement a strong password policy, use password managers (e.g., KeePass, 1Password), and require two-factor authentication (2FA).

Neglecting software and system updates

Many companies postpone updates “for later,” fearing downtime. Unfortunately, outdated systems are the most common gateway for attacks.

Example: the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 paralyzed thousands of companies worldwide, even though a security patch had been available for months.

Solution: automatic updates, implementation of centralized patch management, and regular IT security audits.

Lack of data backups

Backups are fundamental. Unfortunately, many companies remember about them only after data loss – when it’s already too late.

Consequences:

• loss of customer documents,
• halt of the entire organization’s operations,
• risk of bankruptcy in case of prolonged downtime.

Solution: follow the 3-2-1 rule (3 copies of data, on 2 different media, 1 in the cloud), regularly test backups, and store them in secure locations.

No control over company and private devices (BYOD – Bring Your Own Device)

In the era of hybrid work, employees increasingly use private laptops and smartphones for business purposes. Without proper security, they become the weakest link in the security chain.

Consequences:

• leaks of confidential company data,
• no control over who has access to systems,
• higher risk of malware infections.

Solution: implement a BYOD policy, encrypt disks, install corporate security software, control access, and enable remote data wiping in case of a lost device.

Insufficient employee training in IT security

Even the best systems won’t protect a company if an employee clicks on a phishing link. Studies show that over 80% of successful attacks start with the human factor.

Example: phishing emails impersonating service providers (e.g., banks, courier companies) are the most common attack method.

Solution: regular employee training, phishing tests, and simple incident reporting procedures.

Unsecured corporate network (Wi-Fi)

Default router passwords and lack of network segmentation are mistakes cybercriminals exploit first.

Consequences:

• easy access to the internal network,
• ability to eavesdrop on data transmission,
• threats to IoT devices in the company.

Solution: use WPA3 encryption, change default passwords, provide a separate Wi-Fi network for guests, and segment the internal network.

Lack of an incident response plan

Many business owners assume that an attack won’t happen to them. But when it does, lack of a response plan causes chaos and losses.

Consequences:

• longer downtime,
• panic among employees,
• higher financial and reputational costs.

Solution: create an Incident Response Plan, assign roles, and run attack simulations.

No IT security monitoring

Many companies learn about an attack only weeks or months later, when data is already being sold on the dark web.

Solution: implement SIEM, SOC, or outsource cybersecurity services. Even basic log monitoring tools can detect suspicious activities.

Using illegal software

The temptation to save money makes some companies use pirated software. This is a huge risk: no updates, malware, and legal consequences.

Solution: only use legal, licensed software. The purchase cost is far lower than the cost of an attack or a fine.

Believing “It won’t happen to us”

The most dangerous mistake – lack of awareness. Cybercriminals increasingly target small and medium-sized companies because they know these firms have weaker security.

Solution: build a culture of security in the company. Treat IT security as an investment, not an unnecessary cost.

Why do companies still make these mistakes?

• Lack of budget – many organizations believe IT security is too expensive.
• Shortage of specialists – difficulties in hiring cybersecurity experts.
• Lack of awareness – the belief that cybercriminals only attack large corporations.

How to implement an effective cybersecurity strategy in a company?

• Security audit – identify weak points.
• Policies and procedures – passwords, access, updates.
• Employee training – education is the foundation of protection.
• Monitoring and penetration testing – continuous control and attack simulations.
• Disaster Recovery Plan – what to do in case of an incident.

Summary

The most common IT security mistakes in companies result from lack of awareness, procedures, and consistency. Fortunately, most of them can be eliminated with simple actions – password policies, backups, training, and monitoring.

Do you want to check if your organization is properly protected? Contact Hawatel – we’ll help you implement an effective cybersecurity strategy for your company and avoid costly mistakes.