Innovations in business approaches through the implementation of mobile and IoT devices are expanding, and equally so are the number of possible security threats. Especially cyber security threats. However, it is often not the devices themselves that causes problems for businesses. What about employees, or human error as a reason for these cyber security breaches?
More often than not, issues actually occur due to human errors. When people hear about security threats from insiders, they often the image movie style corporate spies. Picturing people intentionally damaging the company from the inside through malicious actions, selling secrets, and providing outsiders access.
However, in truth, often employees will unknowingly cause security issues. They think that they are doing their job, replying to a boss, or following orders. Whereas, in fact, they have been tricked or are accidentally giving someone access. Here are just a few of the ways insider issue can occur:
How Employees can Create Cyber Security Issues
Employees mostly don’t intentionally create these problems, but accidentally do so either from a lack of knowledge or company system controls.
- Hacking – Often from using weak online security, such as writing down passwords on post-it notes, or easy to guess passwords like “Password”. We’ve all probably done this at some point, but it isn’t good for company security.
- Phishing – This is the process where an email or message fools someone into thinking they are from the real organisation, whereas in fact the message is faked and will often link a fake website. The phishing messages and links look very realistic, even sometimes showing as coming from the correct email address. It is important not to click links like this and only visit websites directly.
- Viruses and Malware – These can also come from phishing, but are often also introduced from the downloading of files, using external USBs, cloud storage and other ways that bad data can get into company hardware.
- Ransomware – Similar to viruses, but can be even more damaging, as they take the companies data and hardware hostage until a ransom is paid. The demand is normally for a bitcoin transfer. If not paid, companies can lose all of that data (it is encrypted and not easily recovered).
- Out of Date Software – As the hackers and cyber security attacks find new ways into systems, those systems need to be updated to fight back. If Windows, IOS, Android, or any other important software is left out of date … it literally leaves the door open for attackers to get in.
- Remote Devices – Many employees now take devices outside of the business premises. If not secured properly, these devices can pose serious data breach problems when lost or stolen.
- Intentional Espionage – While not anywhere near as common as the other threats, sometimes the employee chooses to damage the company. This can occur for a number of reasons, such as financial gain, blackmail, or revenge.
These are only some of the main ways this can occur, but they do give a clear insight into the problems modern businesses face.
Securing data is a massive issue, and by implementing effective approaches, companies can help to prevent many of these issues from being possible, or at least stop them before they can do serious damage.
A large part of stopping issues is through training and employee monitoring. Training can help to make staff more aware of the threats. However, the advantages of monitoring software make it a much more effective approach.
Security Benefits of Employee Monitoring Software
Monitoring tools can help to prevent human errors and external access attempts.
- Monitored employees are more likely to behave in the correct way, as they know their actions are being recorded and monitored
- Malicious websites can be blocked – preventing accidental access
- Automated scanning of new files
- Security levels can be set – such as minimum password requirements
- Restricted access
- Device updates done remotely – even across multiple platforms
- Evidence of staff missus
- Alerts for specific actions or issues
- Blocking of unsecured networks
- Restricting applications that can be installed
- Remote wipe or brick devices if lost or stolen
There are many more benefits, but as you can already see, by educating staff about the potential threats and monitoring the devices used for company tasks, the risk of a security breach can be significantly reduced.
If explained in the correct way to staff, monitoring software can also be combined with reward systems. This is a “win-win” scenario for companies, as they gain more control, but can also motivate and effectively reward staff for positive actions.
