If you’re asked to picture people who might threaten your IT network, you’ll probably conjure up images of shadowy faces sitting in front of glowing computer screens in dingy basements halfway across the world. In reality, the person who will compromise your security could be the person you just passed in the hall.
That might sound like a rather paranoid point of view, but the evidence bears it out. In fact, a study by IBM found that the majority of cyberattacks faced by businesses can be directly linked to one of their employees. This is sometimes down to negligence, but many employees act deliberately. All it takes is an unhappy employee to copy your sensitive data onto a flash drive or upload it through a third-party cloud service – just like that you’ve got a security breach on your hands. This can also lead to more malicious intent and fraud cases that can put the business in harm’s way, with resources found at https://castle.io/ being used to put out the flames.
So, how else do you prevent those internal threats?
Employ Network Segmentation
Network segmentation allows you to subdivide your business network into several smaller sub-networks. Instead of giving employees access to the entire network, you’ll only provide access to one part. You can take help from companies like Fusion Connect who can implement robust business networks and set it up according to your requirements. They may also provide additional support by implementing SD-WAN and like features for added protection and flexibility. You can visit their website – https://www.fusionconnect.com/products/networking-security/sd-wan/ – and learn more about how your business network can be made more streamlined.
Blacklist Certain Sharing Software
When an employee shares your data, they often do so by using sharing software or cloud services that allow direct uploading. You can make it more difficult for them to operate by restricting certain software and services, effectively blocking their avenues for wrongdoing.
Prevent Password Sharing
One of the reasons why malicious employees do what they do is because they think it is unlikely that they will be caught. If you allow your staff to share passwords, it’s going to be very hard to hold certain people accountable. Make sure this stops – employees will find it harder to operate without detection if there is strictly one password per team member.
Use an IT Support Service
Finally, make sure you use an external IT support team. They will be able to provide 24/7 coverage, so they’ll be likely to catch any wrongdoer before they can erase signs of their activity. With around-the-clock monitoring, these professionals are equipped to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing the risk of data breaches. Additionally, knowing that a professional provider is monitoring your system will make it dramatically less likely for a team member to try their luck in the first place. For businesses looking for localized support, services like the Worcester Branch of an IT support provider can offer specialized assistance tailored to regional needs. Having a dedicated team that understands the unique challenges of your business environment ensures that security measures are both proactive and responsive, reducing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. They can also provide on-site support when needed, helping to resolve issues quickly and keep your operations running smoothly. Likewise, professional privacy risk mitigation platforms can provide services like BreachAware data breach scanning, which can offer an extra layer of protection by continuously scanning your systems for any signs of unauthorized access or data breaches. This proactive approach ensures that any potential internal threats are identified early, reducing the risk of harm to your business and its sensitive data.
In conclusion, preventing deliberate IT security threats from within requires a comprehensive approach that combines technology, policies, and a strong organizational culture. By implementing access controls, monitoring systems, and educating employees about security risks, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of internal threats to your business. Moreover, fostering a workplace environment built on trust and transparency, while ensuring that clear consequences for breaches are in place, can help deter malicious behavior. Lastly, regularly reviewing and updating security protocols, along with using tools to detect and respond to potential threats, will strengthen your defenses and protect sensitive data from internal vulnerabilities.
