Among all the concerns IT managers and business owners have today, cyber security tops the list. There is good reason for this, as cyber criminals cost both large and small organizations almost $1.4 billion in 2017 alone. The problem is that while cyber security threats are a concern, not enough is being done about it and losses are on the rise.

There is often a push to look into outside influences in regard to how cyber criminals are gaining access to systems and the data within them, but what organizations need to take a closer look at is their employees. According to IBM Security, more than half of cyber attacks are due to what’s happening inside an organization rather than malicious individuals on the outside.

Common Threats

While disgruntled employees are sometimes the cause of breaches, it’s most notably the people who harbor no ill will that mistakenly let the bad guys in. Unfortunately, these are the weak areas that are hard to detect when they are exploited, which means a breach can have serious consequences as the criminal lurks at their leisure.

The fault for a breach can be pinned on specific employees, but management needs to be held accountable for not making them aware of cyber security threats and best practices. The reputation of the employee who causes the breach suffers the most damage, so getting to the bottom of these issues and keeping management accountable is key.

Curbing the Insider Threats

Your employees must take security training extremely seriously. Some will choose to ignore it or fail to listen while in security training. They leave themselves open to a variety of vulnerabilities, from failing to recognize a phishing attack to failing to maintain a safe password.

Sometimes, employees will move into a new position and the transition isn’t followed with the proper training. If they have access to prioritized and sensitive data, they need to be aware of how impactful their mistakes can be to the entire company.

Sensitive Data

Do you have a policy regarding what can be shared electronically? The possibility of sending information to the wrong recipient happens surprisingly frequently. It can be damaging to the company, and even break laws if the information includes privileged client information.

If you’re looking for an agent that will help you manage cyber security threats, eXemplify has the solutions for you. Contact us today and let’s talk about your unique needs.