Attend IT Blog

Attend IT Limited has been serving the Brentford area since 2003, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support, and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

How Employees Can Cause a Threat, and How to Avoid Them

How Employees Can Cause a Threat, and How to Avoid Them

What would you consider to be the biggest threat to your business and its continued operations? Cybercrime? A natural disaster? What if I told you that it was the team members that you have employed—whether they meant to be or not? This is the hard truth that you need to prepare your business to resist.

The Threats Your Employees Can Pose

When it comes to exposing your business to threats, there are a few ways that your cybersecurity may be undermined by your team members. To effectively reinforce your business’ protections against these cyberthreats, you need to acknowledge this fact and prepare strategies to minimize the impact of all of them.

By the most basic definitions, your employees can pose a threat to your business in three different ways:

User Error

Or, in simpler terms, an honest mistake. Just think about how often you’ve made an error where you clicked on the wrong thing or put information in the wrong place—these kinds of errors are only too easy to make in the workplace. Unfortunately, these mistakes can often have considerable impacts upon productivity, and can even influence your business’ continuity.

User Manipulation

With so many businesses beginning to see cyberthreats as a real danger to their operations, security measures are finally being deployed more frequently. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have realized this and have responded by shifting their attention to the most susceptible way for them to access these newly hardened networks: the users who can grant them access.

Through schemes like phishing, hackers can identify and focus on the users within an organization most likely to fall for such ruses. Of course, they also have other methods up their sleeve, so keeping your team aware of the warning signs is critical.

Insider Threats

Fortunately, threats that come from one of the business’ employees are far less common, but it is still prudent to remain prepared and protected against them. An employee with a grudge may strike after they’ve left or steal a little data to make themselves more valuable at their next job. While you should cultivate a company culture that will discourage this, access controls and other preventative measures will help minimize the risks.

Protecting Your Business from Internal Threats

While we’ve touched on some strategies to help minimize the inherent threats your workforce will introduce to your company, the importance of security solutions combined with a security-first company mindset cannot be understated. Keeping your cybersecurity measures updated will make them more effective at blocking out threats. Access controls with role-based permissions will help keep your data on a need-to-know basis and in turn keep your data under better control. Your employees will likely pay more attention to their cybersecurity habits if reminded of the severity and prevalence of cyberattacks today. Your team can just as easily be a security asset as they are a security risk or liability, so training them sufficiently will result in significant benefits for you.

Finally, you need to acknowledge any employee observations, as their insight might reveal security issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. At the same time, working to resolve any issues team members may have will help discourage the kind of ill will that leads to insider threats. While you won’t be able to please everyone, demonstrating a willingness to try can go a long way.

Attend IT Limited can help you out with both aspects, as we can both help ensure your productivity and security, while also providing your team members with IT support as they need it. Find out more about what we have to offer by calling 020 8626 4485.

VoIP Is a Solid Tool for Business
Are Your Employees’ Smartwatches Security Risks?
 

Mobile? Grab this Article!

Qr Code

Tag Cloud

Security Technology Business Computing Productivity Network Security Cloud Best Practices Tip of the Week Business Managed IT Services Data Backup Data Hackers Data Recovery IT Services IT Support communications Hosted Solutions Disaster Recovery Software Innovation Privacy VoIP Backup Cybersecurity Malware Mobile Devices Small Business Efficiency Internet Saving Money Email Business Continuity Cloud Computing Computer Phishing Collaboration Hardware Business Management Outsourced IT Microsoft BDR Automation Information Technology User Tips Ransomware Productivity Smartphones IT Support Compliance Internet of Things Users Workplace Tips Workplace Strategy Quick Tips Smartphone Server Artificial Intelligence Communication Upgrade Risk Management Wi-Fi Mobile Device Management Network Managed IT Mobility Managed IT services Budget Training Spam Meetings Employee-Employer Relationship Covid-19 Gadgets Passwords BYOD Managed Service Provider Google Save Money Wireless Mobile Device Networking Human Resources Remote Avoiding Downtime Password Document Management Android Printing Windows 7 Remote Workers Social Media Microsoft Office VPN Remote Computing Chrome History Hosted Solution Router Instant Messaging Firewall Content Filtering Computers Data Management Cost Management Windows 10 Project Management MSP Monitoring Information Managed Service Virtual Private Network Help Desk Time Management Remote Work Video Conferencing Laptop Marketing Recovery Telephone Systems Government End of Support Hacker Personal Information Hard Drives Solid State Drive Current Events Encryption Battery Automobile Telephony Big Data Audit Office Employer-Employee Relationship Value Saving Time Data Breach Data Storage Data Security Mobile Software as a Service Conferencing Redundancy Maintenance Devices Tech Term Proactive Computing Wireless Internet Hybrid Cloud Business Technology Printers IT Service Machine Learning Paperless Office Backup and Disaster Recovery Voice over Internet Protocol Mobile Office Manufacturing Customer Relationship Management AI Printer Managed Services Mobile Computing Proactive IT Social Engineering Transportation Going Green Browser Applications Private Cloud Operating System iPhone Health Windows Money Facebook Administration Colocation Windows 10 Advertising PDF Apps Legal Wireless Technology Flexibility Update Cybercrime Black Market Virtualization Shadow IT Disaster Education Application Save Time Work/Life Balance Office 365 Antivirus Holiday Entertainment HIPAA Phone System Analytics Electronic Medical Records Cleaning Two-factor Authentication Hacking Smart Technology Vendor Management Samsung Company Culture App SaaS Upgrades Vulnerability The Internet of Things Dark Web Nanotechnology OneNote Business Intelligence Managed IT Service Data Protection Commerce Regulation Professional Services Travel Word Apple User Error Data Loss File Sharing Storage Lifestyle Evernote Workers Spyware intranet Blockchain IoT Analysis Chromebook Smart Tech Connectivity Streaming Media Content Filter Management Financial Technology Gamification Students Unified Communications Remote Monitoring Wasting Money Amazon Virtual Assistant Alexa for Business WPA3 File Storage Bandwidth Vendor Telephone Utility Computing Payroll SMB Downtime E-Commerce Payment Cards Break/Fix e-waste Employees Smartwatch Development Azure Active Directory Windows Server Cybersecurty Window 10 Online Storage Fiber Optics Windows Server 2008 Copiers Voiceover Internet Protocol Business Telephone Computer Repair Troubleshooting CRM Workstations Outsource IT PCI DSS Regulations Compliance Cost Remote Working Leadership Bitcoin Finance Infrastructure Videoconferencing Streaming Customer Service Copier Authentication Hiring/Firing RMM Windows 11 Cabling Going Paperless Inventory Management Employer/Employee Relationships Outsourcing How To Microsoft Outlook Files Regulations Paperless Solutions Microsoft 365 Strategy Consulting Decision Making Ergonomics Signage Customer Experience Robot Google Drive Miscellaneous Alert Law Enforcement Reputation Social Relocation Search Internet Exlporer Text Messaging Office Tips HaaS Video Games Scalability Humor How To Best Practice USB Virtual Reality Managing Stress Point of Sale Identity Theft Worker Commute Politics Experience Music Books Safety Emergency Worker Scam Computer Accessories Charger Computer Care Unsupported Software Television Business Strategy WiFi Unified Threat Management Consultant Touchscreen Emails Webinar IT solutions Windows 10s Hard Disk Drive iOS Computer Fan Root Cause Analysis Augmented Reality CrashOverride Settings Screen Mirroring Cast HBO IT Management IT Solutions WIndows Server 2008 Patch Management Outlook Shortcut Excel Sync Adobe Licensing Tablets NFL Windows Ink Google Maps Google Docs Microsoft Excel Sports Cortana Legislation Comparison Specifications Sales Retail Gifts Credit Cards FAQ Wireless Charging WannaCry Updates Microsoft Word eWaste Device Security Tech Support Fraud Edge Ciminal IT budget Identities Language Virus Websites Data Theft App store Mobile Security Identity Data Privacy Hard Drive Google Assistant Twitter Computer Forensics Gmail PowerPoint Memory Financial Bring Your Own Device Testing Camera Projects Display Co-Managed Services Hyperlink Wasting Time Accessory Peripheral Access Control Admin Keyboard Shortcuts Security Cameras Employee 5G Medical IT YouTube OneDrive Sabotage PC Server Maintenance Investment ROI Windows Server 2008 R2 Micrsosoft Digital Signage Processor Benchmarks Myths Threats Scams Managed Services Provider Facebook Privacy eCommerce Holidays Inventory Communitications Hosted Desktop Smart Devices Keyboard Net Neutrality Internet Service Provider Workstation Telework Audits Solutions Policy Procedure Organization Innovations Reviews Biometrics Computer Tips Work Windows 8.1 Voice Supply Chain Environment Workplace Strategies Print Management Healthcare SSD Remote Management Telephone System Print Database 2FA Virtual Desktop Proactive Management eSignature Cyberattack Cameras Digital Cameras Mixed Reality Displays