Ransomware attacks alone cost U.S. businesses $18.88 billion in 2020. But did you know that internal factors can cause these kinds of cyber threats? Most security policies focus on keeping bad actors out, but have you considered cybersecurity internal threats as well?
So what exactly are cybersecurity internal threats, and how do you protect against them? This article gives some specific examples.
1. Staff Clicking Phishing Links
One of the most significant small business cybersecurity risks is phishing. This is when a cybercriminal sets up a fake website that looks legitimate and attempts to make unsuspecting victims “log in” to the site.
The fake site is often made to look like your company site. When the victim tries to log in, the username and password are sent directly to the attacker. Phishing attacks can be considered both external and internal cybersecurity threats.
The internal threat comes from staff who don’t know how to recognize a phishing attempt. The only way to neutralize this threat is to have staff training.
2. Staff Who Fall for Social Engineering
Another one of the potential cybersecurity threats your company faces is the staff who fall for social engineering. Social engineering is when attackers use psychological trickery to trick people into granting them access to systems.
For example, someone might call up pretending to be from the head office and ask an employee for their password. Again, the only way to defend against this kind of attack is to train your staff.
3. Weak Passwords
You also need to beware of staff using weak passwords. Weak passwords are about more than just using special characters and numbers. You also need to make sure your team is not using the same passwords at work that they use in their everyday life.
This presents a risk because your staff’s passwords could be leaked if hackers gain access to their personal accounts. You should consider mandating exclusive work passwords. You should also think about using 2-factor authentication.
4. Staff Working With Cybercriminals
One of the top internal cybersecurity threats is when your staff works with cybercriminals. Such a threat from the inside can be tough to defend against. With this kind of attack, criminals don’t even need to hack into anything, as their actor on the inside lets them in.
The only way to defend against this kind of attack is to have solid internal security protocols. You should also make sure you do extensive background checks on anyone who has access to sensitive files.
5. Poor Data Management
Finally, you need to be concerned about poor data management. Data is the lifeblood of your company, but many companies don’t treat data with the care it deserves. If you have insufficient data management practices, someone at your company could inadvertently erase critical data.
A company like Option3 can help you with data management.
Deal With These Cybersecurity Internal Threats
As you can see, there are many cybersecurity internal threats your company needs to defend against. Given the complexity of digital technology, it might make sense to hire a cybersecurity consultant to help with your security protocols.
If you want to learn more about some other technology-related topics, check out the rest of our blog posts.