IT Security – How to Combat Internal IT Threats

Not all cybersecurity threats come from anonymous criminals looking for payouts on the Dark Web – some come from people who you work with and see every day. In this article, we take a look at why these threats are so dangerous and what your company can do about them.

Internal vs external IT security threats          

While external and internal cybersecurity threats both have the potential to do extensive damage to your company’s operations, data, and reputation, internal threats can be more dangerous in many ways.

For example, if the compromised person or credentials have access to sensitive data, the attack can access more valuable information faster, before you even know you’re under attack. They won’t set off alarms and alerts because these credentials allow this access, bypassing all security on the system.

Types of internal cybersecurity threats 

There are a wide range of cybersecurity threats to guard against that can arise from within your organisation. These include:

• Unhappy ex-employees – When an employee has been let go, there is an increased likelihood that they will act against the company, especially if the employment has been terminated in a negative manner.The best thing to do is to implement a policy where permissions, clearances, and access to the building are immediately terminated as soon as someone is dismissed.

• Commercial spying – If your organisation works with sensitive and commercially valuable information, employees may be targeted by competitors and incentivised to steal data on their behalf. Best practice here is to limit data access to only those who need it for their job role, limiting the pool of potential targets. The network should also be monitored for suspicious activity 24/7.Supervisors should actively monitor data access, should pay attention to employees to note signs that they are unhappy at work or vulnerable, and policies should be in place for coming forward with information on being pressured into spying.

• Lack of awareness– One of the biggest cybersecurity threats is simple lack of awareness and human error. When people are unaware of security threats, unable to identify them, and don’t know how to keep their data secure, they are a prime target for phishing, smishing, and other attacks by external forces – they may even be completely unaware that they have been compromised. On a similar level, an employee could easily delete important files, lose their laptop, access an unsecure network while working remotely, or even let a stranger use their device. They don’t mean to compromise security, but it can very easily happen regardless of their intentions.

The best way to protect your organisation from this type of threat is across the board cybersecurity training. And the bonus is that people will learn how to better protect their own personal data while learning to protect company data at the same time.

Outsourced, professional cybersecurity and IT security awareness training in Melbourne 

Otto is dedicated to making the online space as safe and secure as possible for your employees and organisation. From regular cybersecurity seminars and access to the latest IT security tech to staff training, our IT consulting team in Melbourne covers all of your bases when it comes to cybersecurity solutions and training – for every industry and budget. Chat to us today about securing your data against internal and external threats.