Protecting critical assets goes beyond firewalls and antivirus
*By Alexandre Paoleschi, CEO of Fenix DFA and KYMO Investment.
This is an original excerpt published on Exame.com. Read the full article on Exame.
When an audit revealed that the security system password at the Louvre Museum was simply “Louvre,” the world reacted in disbelief. How could one of the planet’s most prestigious cultural institutions—guardian of priceless works and a symbol of human history—entrust the protection of its data and collections to such an obvious password?
The episode is symbolic and deeply revealing. And importantly, it’s not about the Louvre, but about how we still neglect the basics when it comes to digital security and protecting critical assets.
Behind robust firewalls and sophisticated technologies, many organizations remain vulnerable due to predictable human decisions, outdated protocols, and a dangerous sense of invulnerability.
The threat doesn’t come only from hackers
In the digital age, the threat doesn’t come only from hackers, but from our own complacency. Recent data shows that 69% of companies don’t trust their ability to recover after a cyberattack, while the global average cost of a data breach has already surpassed US$4.45 million.
Even so, many still believe that a simple backup or an up-to-date antivirus is enough to ensure protection. Reality is more complex.
In digital security, a vulnerability can exist for weeks or even months—but if it’s identified and fixed before it’s exploited, the incident is avoided. In the backup world, there’s no such margin for error.
The complexity of data protection
A missed recovery point, a job suspended for months, or an unaddressed failure represents moments in time and space that can’t be recreated. And yet, companies continue to postpone corrective actions for years.
Just as cybersecurity requires more than firewalls and antivirus, data protection demands more than good backup software.
Intelligent operational management is needed, with continuous monitoring, visibility, governance, compliance, and recovery validation. Digital security is not a product: it’s a constant process of vigilance, prevention, and learning.
The weakest link: the human factor
Cases like the Louvre have invaluable educational value. They lay bare the weakest link in any system: the human factor. Studies indicate that fewer than 10% of detected backup failures are actually addressed by the responsible teams.
It’s not the technology that fails, but how we use it—and, above all, how we monitor it. Weak passwords, manual processes, lack of multi-factor authentication, and unaudited backups make companies of all sizes easy targets.
More than ever, it’s essential to understand that the digital era demands more than a “Plan B.” It demands strategic information management. The difference between a resilient company and a victim lies in the ability to anticipate risks, not just react to them.
Digital security as a resilience strategy
In this context, investing only in barriers or complex passwords is not enough. Companies need solutions that ensure resilience and intelligent data recovery.
True digital security isn’t about avoiding failures at all costs, but about ensuring operational continuity even in the face of the unexpected—whether an invasion, human error, or infrastructure failure.
Today, automated backup systems, cloud replication, and validated restoration plans represent the dividing line between paralysis and responding with maturity in the midst of crisis.
If the Louvre password teaches us anything, it’s that digital negligence can cost far more than an operational failure. It can compromise reputations, legacies, and entire estates. And when that happens, no technology can restore lost trust.
