Common workplace security breaches and how to prevent them

According to the Data Breach Investigations Report, the human component of cyber security breaches comprises 82% of all confirmed data breaches. This is a shocking indictment of human fallibility in the workplace.

Viewed differently, this presents the ideal framework to implement sweeping security protocols designed to limit malfeasance, mitigate human error, and beef up workplace security. It is estimated that some 255 million phishing attacks were deployed during 2022, with a stunning 79% of organizations dealing with Ransomware attacks. 32% of online security professionals reported difficulties protecting attack surfaces, and another worrying statistic is the sharp increase in attacks on the healthcare industry.

In today’s digital landscape, ensuring workplace security is paramount. A comprehensive solution that stands out for its effectiveness in safeguarding application development is found through a cloud-native Application Security (AppSec) platform. This platform is instrumental in aligning the strategic interests of CISOs, security teams, and developers, enhancing efficiency, managing risks, and enabling secure digital transformation. It lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) while reducing vulnerabilities, making it a trusted choice for enterprises aiming to drive business growth.

While the current cybersecurity trends are ominous, key issues have been identified in the workplace. An overarching strategy to deal with cyber threats, security vulnerabilities, and human error is necessary to remediate the situation:

Router security and regular backups – sensible practice

It’s not necessary for criminals to be physically present at your workplace with them to wreak havoc on your systems. They do so by breaking into your security network. It’s much easier for them to gain access to an unsecured network. That’s why it’s necessary to encrypt communications with wireless traffic. Companies must always back up data, particularly private information, sensitive information, and critical information. This is a highly effective defense against Ransomware attacks.

Social media oversharing – caution is the order of the day

Employees may post too much company-related content over social media channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Cybercriminals use readily available information as part of their nefarious strategy vis-à-vis spear phishing and phishing. By sending unsuspecting victims messages or emails, masquerading as someone that they might know, or linking to suspect websites and hacker havens – companies are at risk with these typical attack vectors. These types of attacks are either targeted and professional, such as a spear phishing attack via customized email or a phishing attack whereby the intended victim is presented with a fake profile of a known corporation.

Fortunately, these types of social media overshares can be guarded against through meticulous training. It’s imperative to teach employees the necessary tools and resources to identify phishing attacks. For example, the sender’s email address must always be carefully checked to ensure that it is a legitimate entity before any links are clicked on. More importantly, employees must be fully trained on what can and cannot be shared online. Caution is the order of the day whenever any email, message, or website requests sensitive information to be input.

Username/password combinations – make them strong

Despite mountains of evidence warning against it, it is uncanny how many employees – at all levels – continue to use weak passwords. Birthdates, names of pets, children’s names, boyfriend/girlfriend names, and many other easily guessable passwords are all too common. Another major problem with passwords is that many people use the same password for different websites. One of the most commonly used passwords is QWERTY or 123456. In the 2020s, it is cybersecurity suicide to use weak passwords. This puts businesses at tremendous risk of being hacked. Guard against it by encouraging password generators, regular password changes, unique passwords for company logins, etcetera.

Always update software – keep loopholes at bay

Software is unique in the sense that it is ever-evolving. That means the software or program that you downloaded at inception is probably running a more comprehensive, updated version today. As operating systems continually advance to accommodate the ever-expanding capabilities

of computing technology and IOT devices, it’s necessary to update software and firmware with the latest code to protect against the actions of hackers. Flaws, security breaches, and software that hasn’t been updated can lead to poor system health. Ensure that all application software runs the latest system at all times. Simply staying up-to-date with what is available in terms of the latest patches is a big step towards staying safe at all times.

Default configurations across hardware devices – reconfigure

Many devices, in fact, most devices, are configured in a default setting. These configurations are well-known across the World Wide Web. Hackers know all about these default configurations and routinely share their details. If patches are absent, hackers will exploit these vulnerabilities and use loopholes to gain access to your security networks. By pretending to be a trusted server, for example, cybercriminals can harvest information and then use that data to hack into your system. They then sell personally identifiable information such as credit card, banking, ID, and Social Security data with criminal syndicates.

Insufficient training – get trained

Few industries online are as dynamic and important as cybersecurity. Companies must be assertive and proactive when training employees and other personnel to avoid data breaches. The head of IT security must proactively head problems off at the pass before any data breaches occur. Engagements, interaction, communication, and airtight security systems are sacrosanct. It’s all about conduct, that is, being highly diligent, motivated, and having security-conscious behavior in the workplace. This may warrant the creation of security training programs to help employees understand the difficulties of workplace requirements.

Featured image credit: Pexels/Pixabay

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• Source: https://dataconomy.com/2024/04/04/common-workplace-security-breaches-and-how-to-prevent-them/