One of the world’s leading voices on cyber security has shared the three biggest myths which surround the issue.
Sarah Armstrong-Smith is highlighting them in a bid to try and help businesses better deal with the increasing danger of cyber-attacks.
Speaking to the London Keynote Speakers Agency she said:: “There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to cyber security. But three things tend to be incorrectly repeated over and over again which I think need calling out.
Speaking to “Myth one is that “cybersecurity is an IT problem”. It is not. Cybersecurity is a business and societal imperative. The second myth is this sense that ‘we’re too small to be a target’. Again, this is wrong. In reality around 90% of ransomware attacks are levied at SMEs. The final myth is the sense that “this solution will fix everything”. This isn’t right. Effective security means being dynamic to the evolving risk, not a one-time fix.”
Sarah is well placed to highlight these myths.
She is a leading light within the cybersecurity industry, and is best known as previously working as the Chief Security Advisor at Microsoft.
She has also occupied numerous other high-profile roles throughout an illustrious career, including being the Group Head of Business Resilience & Crisis Management at The London Stock Exchange Group, and the Head of Continuity & Resilience at Fujitsu.
In 2020, Sarah was selected to become the Chief Security Advisor in Microsoft’s Europe sector, a role which allowed her to work with the largest enterprises across Europe, to develop digital transformation and cloud adoption.
Sarah’s professionalism has been recognised widely. She’s previously been named in the Top 30 Female Cybersecurity Leaders by SC Media, and she has also been recognised by ComputerWeekly as one of UK’s Most Influential Tech Leaders.
Outlining the most pressing cybersecurity threats we face today, and how governments and businesses should be preparing, she said: “In today’s hyper-connected world, the scale and sophistication of cyber threats have reached unprecedented levels. Industrial-scale attacks now target critical infrastructure and supply chains, threatening to disrupt entire economies and destroy essential services with a single strike.
“Geopolitically motivated cyber influence operations are reshaping public opinion and destabilising societies, as threat actors weaponise digital platforms to manipulate narratives and sow seeds of doubt on a global scale.
“Meanwhile, the rise of AI-enabled social engineering attacks means adversaries can automate deception, impersonate trusted individuals, and exploit human vulnerabilities with alarming precision and speed. To prepare, governments and businesses must move beyond traditional defences. They need to systematically remove out-dated infrastructure and old practices, to build collective resilience in the face of extreme uncertainty.”
Opening up on the biggest lesson she took from her time at Microsoft Sarahcontinued: “My time at Microsoft taught me that true cybersecurity leadership is about more than just understanding threats – it’s about building a culture of trust, collaboration, and relentless curiosity. I witnessed first hand how even the most complex security challenges can be transformed into opportunities for innovation and growth when people are empowered with the right tools, mindset, and support.
The scale and diversity of threats faced at Microsoft reinforced that no single organisation can stand alone; lasting resilience is built through networks of shared intelligence and collective action. This experience fuels my passion to equip leaders to make strategic decisions that genuinely protect and propel their organisations forward.”
Explaining how we can start to take back control and protect ourselves more effectively again cyber attacks, she concluded: “Taking back control starts with building the right culture that fosters psychological safety, that empowers people to step up and shout out. This means breaking down barriers, and delivering transformational leadership
“We must prioritise a human-centric approach to security and resilience that protects the most vulnerable people, and sensitive data from harm. This requires diligence, transparency, and rapid response. Every individual and organisation has the power to disrupt the cycle, starting with small, consistent actions, that ultimately leads to systematic change.”
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