You’ve heard the same cybersecurity advice countless times. Use strong passwords. Turn on two-factor authentication. Keep your software updated. Check, check, and check. Your business should be secure now, right?
Not quite.
While these basics are important first steps, the “good enough” approach to cybersecurity is creating a false sense of security for businesses across Calgary.
What makes this mindset particularly dangerous is that it feels pretty darn responsible.
Is 2FA Cybersecurity’s Greatest Trap?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) has become the poster child of “good enough” cybersecurity. It’s simple to understand, easy to implement, and gives business owners a tangible sense that they’ve addressed security concerns. Many companies stop there, believing they’ve solved their cybersecurity puzzle.
The reality is more complex.
While 2FA does add a valuable layer of protection and should (at minimum) always be enabled, it’s far from bulletproof. Cybercriminals have adapted their tactics, developing sophisticated methods to bypass these protections entirely.
Just look at the Astaroth attacks that have been bypassing Gmail and Outlook authenticators by intercepting the 2FA tokens sent to users. How might that play out in a business like yours?
Let’s say your CFO receives an urgent email that appears to be from your CRM, asking them to verify their account (which is linked to their Gmail) immediately.
The email looks legitimate, complete with official logos and formatting.
When they click the link and enter their credentials, they’re redirected to a page asking for their 2FA code.
Thinking they’re protecting themselves, they enter it.
In doing so, the employee handed over not just their password but their second factor as well.
The cybercriminal now has everything needed to access the account, despite the 2FA protection being in place.
Why Phishing Still Works
At the heart of why “good enough” cybersecurity fails is a simple truth that’s often overlooked: it doesn’t account for human behaviour.
Phishing attacks have evolved far beyond the obvious scam emails of the past. Modern attacks (which we talked more about here) are carefully crafted, often targeting specific companies or individuals with personalized information that makes them appear genuine.
They exploit urgency, authority, and trust to convince even cautious employees to act against their better judgment.
The most sophisticated attacks, known as “adversary-in-the-middle” attacks, can capture 2FA codes in real time. These attacks intercept communications between users and legitimate websites, stealing credentials and authentication codes as they’re entered.
Comprehensive cybersecurity solutions—the kind of all-encompassing protection needed to keep a Calgary business secure—recognize that people, not just technology, are part of the security equation.
The False Economy of Basic Cybersecurity
Many small business owners still view cybersecurity as a cost centre. While most are worried about cyberattacks, they feel they lack the resources to invest in a proper defence strategy and opt for the most affordable ways to check the security box instead.
This thinking leads to a piecemeal approach. Add 2FA here, install antivirus there, and maybe run a security training session once a year.
Taking a scattered approach like this creates gaps that cybercriminals actively exploit. It’s like installing a high-quality deadbolt on your front door while leaving windows unlocked throughout your house.
The real cost comes when those gaps are exploited. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and business disruptions can cost companies thousands or even millions of dollars.
The “expensive” holistic cybersecurity approach suddenly looks like a bargain compared to recovery costs.
Considering the Calgary Context
Cybersecurity for Calgary businesses requires understanding both the local business environment and the evolving threat landscape. This includes awareness of industry-specific risks, compliance requirements, and the practical constraints small to medium businesses face.
When we’re first meeting clients, they often tell us how out of their depth they felt once they started realizing just how much protection their business needed. They typically lack dedicated IT security staff, and without this guidance, they never end up addressing their weaker defences.
Of course, this feeds right into cybercriminals’ hands.
Cybercriminals know smaller companies are less likely to have strong cybersecurity. They also know these businesses handle sensitive customer data and financial information and have relationships with third parties that bad actors could use to breach them.
In short, local businesses are the most attractive target you could get.
What Does Holistic Cybersecurity Look Like for Calgary Businesses?
The foundations of effective security are built on a layered approach that addresses multiple potential failure points simultaneously. Instead of locking windows, think more along the lines of reconfiguring your entire house into a fortress.
This approach starts with understanding that security is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup—and it’s not a process you have to undergo alone.
As part of our cybersecurity services in Calgary, we continuously monitor for threats, update defences, and adapt to new attack methods.
Key components include:
- Multi-layered technical defences that work together to catch threats individual tools might miss. This includes advanced email filtering, endpoint protection, network monitoring, and secure backup systems.
- Regular cybersecurity training that goes beyond annual presentations. We make sure training is effective by using real-world examples, as well as simulated phishing exercises and ongoing education to help employees recognize and respond to threats
- Incident response planning that prepares your team for when, not if, a security incident occurs. This includes clear procedures, communication protocols, and recovery strategies.
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure security measures remain effective as threats evolve and business needs change.
Undoubtedly, shifting from “good enough” to “actually good” cybersecurity will take a change in mindset. But hopefully, teams like ours will help you view security as a business function that benefits from regular attention and investment, not just a problem that can be solved by toggling ‘enable 2FA’.
Your Next Steps
While basic measures like 2FA are important starting points, they’re not endpoints.
Your data, your customers, and your business operations deserve more, and moving beyond the “good enough” mindset is the first step toward building defences that actually protect what matters most to your business.
So, let us ask you: is your current cybersecurity really good enough?
(And would you like to have a chat about changing that?)
