HOW CAN YOU SPOT ACCIDENTAL INSIDER RISKS?
Employees make mistakes. Not only is it human, it’s inevitable. While some accidental insider risk can be chalked up to the cost of doing business, other factors can be controlled — and smart businesses are making that a priority.
There’s always a chance for employees to make mistakes. However, certain circumstances within a business lead to the increased likelihood of an employee making an error.
NON-MALICIOUS EMPLOYEE BEHAVIORS THAT CAN LEAD TO TROUBLE
These employee behaviors make it more likely that you’ll have an accidental insider threat turn into a damaging cybersecurity incident:
- Sharing passwords, especially privileged passwords
- Reusing, recycling, or never changing passwords
- Writing passwords down (either electronically or on paper)
- Careless data handling, like sending sensitive data to the wrong recipient
- Fear of asking for help or clarification regarding possible threats like phishing
- Threats of termination if an employee makes a security mistake
- Lack of support for IT teams in enforcing security protocols
- Ignorance of common threats due to lack of security awareness
- Too little training in proper security protocols
- Time pressures that increase the chance of a mistake
FACTORS THAT INCREASE EMPLOYEE ERROR PROBABILITY
Employees are more likely to make an error if:
- Do not know what cyber threats look like
- Fear of job loss or demotion
- Do not know who to ask for help
- Do not know how or where to report a problem
- Do not believe that security is important
- Have “no time” security awareness training
- Do not have the right tools to stop an incident
A company’s security culture is the attitude of the business and its employees toward cybersecurity. It can be impacted by many factors including corporate priorities, knowledge and implementation of security best practices, and compliance with security policies and procedures.
Paul Jackson, CEO of Jackson Technologies, has been in the business for more than a decade now and he knows exactly how human error can damage one’s cybersecurity culture. In a strong security culture, employees are aware of the importance of maintaining security around data and systems and abide by proper measures recommended by cybersecurity professionals.
Wondering if your business is at risk? We offer cybersecurity risk assessments that can help your business detect cyber threats in advance before an incident occurs and cost you everything.