There’s a pervasive myth in boardrooms and IT departments alike: that with enough investment, training, and fancy software, a company can be 100% secure. The brutal truth is simple every system is hackable. No matter how many checkboxes you tick or how many “best practices” you follow, vulnerability is inevitable. If you’re banking on the idea of perfect security, you’re setting yourself up for a devastating breach that will cost you not only money but also your reputation and, in the worst cases, your business.

The myth of 100% secure

For too long, cybersecurity vendors and complacent executives have peddled the lie that your network, your applications, and your data can be made impenetrable. This notion is not only misleading it’s dangerous. Security checklists and compliance certifications provide only a snapshot of your defenses at one moment in time. Attackers are relentless, agile, and constantly innovating. They thrive on the very gaps that “perfect security” proponents ignore.

Consider the allure of “100% secure” solutions that promise complete invulnerability. These solutions often come with a hefty price tag and the comforting pat on the back that everything is under control. The reality, however, is starkly different: even the most fortified systems have chinks in their armor. Human error, misconfigurations, and evolving threat tactics ensure that no system remains safe indefinitely. The pursuit of perfect security is not only unrealistic it distracts from building a resilient, responsive security posture.

The cost of believing the lie

Believing that your system is completely secure has real-world consequences. When companies operate under this false assurance, they fail to prepare for the inevitable breach. In July 2021, a cyberattack against a major state-owned enterprise disrupted operations at key ports, forcing manual processing of container shipments and causing a significant economic blow. The organization had invested heavily in security measures, yet its outdated processes and bureaucratic inertia rendered it vulnerable. The aftermath was a chaotic scramble to restore operations, resulting in severe supply chain disruptions and financial losses that rippled throughout the region.

Similarly, a well-known financial services firm in Africa recently experienced a data breach that exposed millions of customers’ personal information. The breach wasn’t the result of a sophisticated zero-day exploit it was the predictable outcome of neglecting basic cyber security hygiene and failing to question the myth of complete invulnerability. Companies that operate on the assumption of 100% security are slow to invest in proactive threat hunting and real-time monitoring, leaving them exposed to attacks that could have been mitigated with a more realistic and dynamic approach.

Across Africa and indeed, around the globe organizations that cling to the lie of perfect security often find themselves facing costs that run into millions of dollars, lost productivity, and irreparable damage to their brand reputation. This isn’t just about technology; it’s about leadership, culture, and the willingness to acknowledge that security is an ongoing process, not a destination.

Why every system is hackable

It’s a harsh reality, but here’s the bottom line: every system is hackable. The complexity of modern IT environments means that vulnerabilities are inevitable. Software is written by humans, and humans make mistakes. Even with rigorous testing and continuous updates, new vulnerabilities are discovered every day. Attackers exploit these flaws with laser precision, often before the company even realizes a problem exists.

Several factors ensure that no system can ever be 100% secure:

1. Complexity breeds vulnerabilities: Modern networks are a tangle of hardware, software, and interconnected services. The more complex your environment, the more opportunities there are for misconfigurations and overlooked weaknesses.
2. Human error is inevitable: Whether it’s a misconfigured cloud storage bucket, an employee who falls for a phishing scam, or a developer who writes insecure code, human error is the most common cause of breaches.
3. Attackers are adaptive: Cybercriminals continuously refine their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to bypass even the most advanced security measures. What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
4. Static defenses are obsolete: Security solutions that promise a one-time fix or a static state of protection become outdated as soon as new threats emerge. Your defenses must evolve continuously to counter emerging risks.

This is not a call to despair but a call to adopt a new mindset one that assumes breach is not a question of if, but when. Embracing this reality is the first step toward building resilience and surviving inevitable attacks.

What happens when the myth of being unhackable fails?

Forensic investigations into major data breaches consistently reveal a common narrative: the attackers found vulnerabilities that had been ignored because the organization believed itself to be “100% secure.”

One notorious example involves a state-owned enterprise in Kenya that was forced to revert to manual processes after a cyberattack crippled its digital operations. The forensic analysis showed that the breach occurred due to outdated software and ineffective patch management issues that had been swept under the rug by a misplaced sense of security.

In another case, a leading financial services firm suffered a data breach that exposed millions of customer records. Forensic experts discovered that the breach was not the result of an unprecedented, sophisticated hack but a predictable failure: the company’s reliance on outdated defenses and a failure to monitor insider activity. The investigation highlighted that even when advanced security solutions are in place, complacency and overconfidence can create the perfect storm for attackers.

These forensic lessons underscore a critical truth: no matter how secure you believe your systems are, the reality is that vulnerabilities exist. And when an attack occurs, the damage is compounded by the delay in detection and response, often leading to long-term financial and reputational harm.

Here are your survival strategies in an insecure world

If the goal of 100% security is a myth, the practical reality is that survival depends on resilience. Instead of chasing the unattainable goal of a perfectly secure system, organizations must focus on minimizing damage, reducing recovery time, and maintaining business continuity when breaches inevitably occur.

The most important shift in mindset is to assume that you will be breached. This doesn’t mean being paranoid; it means being prepared. Develop a robust incident response plan that outlines clear roles, responsibilities, and communication strategies. Regularly test your plan with simulated attacks, such as red team exercises and penetration tests, to ensure that your team can react swiftly and effectively when a breach happens.

Invest in continuous monitoring and threat hunting

Static defenses like firewalls and antivirus software are no longer sufficient. You need continuous, real-time monitoring of your systems to detect suspicious activity before it escalates into a full-blown breach. Invest in advanced threat detection systems that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to identify anomalous behavior. A proactive threat hunting team can help you spot vulnerabilities and potential breaches early, giving you a critical time advantage.

Empower your security team with offensive skills

Too many organizations think that a reactive security posture is enough. Instead, your security team should adopt an offensive mindset, constantly probing for vulnerabilities as if they were the attackers. This means not only performing regular penetration tests but also empowering your team to think creatively and challenge assumptions. Hiring offensive security experts those who have a background in red teaming and ethical hacking can provide invaluable insights into how an attacker might exploit your systems.

Remove bureaucratic obstacles

Bureaucracy can be the enemy of effective cybersecurity. When security processes become mired in endless approvals and rigid procedures, the response to emerging threats is delayed. Streamline your internal processes so that your security team can act decisively and quickly. Empower them with the authority to make immediate decisions in response to a detected threat. In today’s fast-paced digital environment, speed is often the difference between a contained breach and a catastrophic incident.

Foster a culture of security awareness

Your employees are your first line of defense, but they can also be your biggest vulnerability. Establish a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility. Regular, practical training sessions that focus on real-world scenarios are essential. Teach employees to recognize phishing attempts, social engineering tactics, and other common attack vectors. Reinforce the idea that security is not just the job of the IT department it’s a collective responsibility that spans the entire organization.

Prepare for insider threats

Not all breaches come from outside. Insider threats whether through negligence or malicious intent are increasingly common. Implement robust user activity monitoring and privileged access management solutions to detect unusual behavior by employees. Regularly review and update access permissions to ensure that only those who need access to sensitive data have it. Remember, insiders often have legitimate access to your systems, which is why monitoring and anomaly detection are so critical.

Diversify your defenses

Relying on a single security solution is a recipe for disaster. Adopt a layered defense strategy that includes multiple, overlapping measures. This might include network segmentation, multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and regular security audits. While no single measure can guarantee 100% security, a diverse array of defenses can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of a breach.

Actionable insights for leaders and IT professionals

Here are concrete, actionable strategies to shift your cybersecurity posture from chasing myths to building resilience:

1. Assume breach and prepare to respond. Develop and regularly test an incident response plan that includes clear communication protocols and defined roles for your team.
2. Invest in continuous monitoring. Deploy real-time threat detection systems that leverage artificial intelligence to monitor your entire IT environment.
3. Think offensively. Hire and empower security professionals who can perform regular penetration tests and red team exercises. Encourage your team to proactively seek out vulnerabilities.
4. Cut through bureaucracy. Streamline internal processes to ensure that your security team can make rapid decisions without being bogged down by red tape.
5. Train your workforce. Conduct ongoing, scenario-based cybersecurity training for all employees, not just the IT department.
6. Manage insider risks. Implement strict access controls, monitor user activity, and regularly review permissions to prevent insider threats.
7. Adopt a layered defense. Utilize a mix of security measures from network segmentation to multi-factor authentication to create multiple barriers against attackers.
8. Invest in threat intelligence. Leverage up-to-date threat intelligence feeds and partner with cybersecurity experts who understand the latest attack vectors.
9. Prioritize resilience over perfection. Focus on reducing the time to detect, contain, and remediate breaches rather than obsessing over the unattainable goal of 100% security.
10. Regularly update and patch systems. Ensure that all software and hardware are consistently updated to defend against known vulnerabilities.

By adopting these strategies, you’re not claiming that your system will never be hacked you’re acknowledging that breaches will happen and that your organization’s survival depends on how quickly and effectively you respond.

A case of surviving the inevitable breach

Imagine a mid-sized organization in a high-risk industry that believed it was 100% secure because it had invested in state-of-the-art security software and obtained numerous certifications. The leadership, confident in their defenses, neglected to test their incident response plan and did not invest in continuous monitoring. Then one day, an attacker exploited a misconfiguration in a legacy system that had not been updated for months. The breach went undetected for days, and by the time it was discovered, the attacker had exfiltrated sensitive customer data and disrupted critical operations.

The forensic investigation revealed that the attacker had exploited a well-known vulnerability one that could have been patched if the company had a proactive maintenance and monitoring strategy. The investigation also uncovered that internal communications had flagged irregular activity, but the alerts were lost in a sea of bureaucratic red tape.

In the aftermath, the company scrambled to contain the breach, manually shutting down affected systems and hiring external cybersecurity experts to assist with recovery. The financial and reputational damage was significant, and the company was forced to pay hefty fines and reimburse affected customers. Had they adopted a mindset that assumed the breach was inevitable, invested in continuous monitoring, and empowered an offensive security team, the breach’s impact might have been contained much more effectively.

This case study is not hypothetical it mirrors real incidents that have occurred across Africa and beyond. The takeaway is clear: resilience and rapid response are your best defenses against the inevitability of a breach.