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Businesses often find themselves heavily dependent on technology, data, and communication systems. With this comes the urgent need for robust security measures that can shield valuable assets from a multitude of threats. To effectively safeguard these assets, it is crucial to recognize and address the unique challenges of internal security threats. 

Recently, the WinZip® Enterprise team has undertaken a comprehensive survey, shedding light on the mounting uncertainty surrounding the increasing number and sophistication of cyber threats. 

The survey’s overall findings show how crucial it is for organizations to promptly and efficiently tackle internal data security risks head-on. This article will explore examples of internal security threats and how to avoid them. 

Internal security threats and risks for businesses 

Internal security threats represent various risks that originate from within an organization itself.  

These dangers manifest when individuals with authorized access to sensitive data or systems misuse their privileges, either deliberately or unintentionally. Such threats can arise from employees, contractors, or trusted partners. 

Our survey found that the top internal data security threats reported were employee mistakes and negligence (human error), weak passwords or poor password hygiene, and mobile device vulnerabilities.  

Ignoring internal security risks leaves organizations vulnerable to potential financial losses, reputational damage, and legal consequences, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address these threats. 

Examples of internal security threats (and why they occur) 

Internal threats pose significant risks to organizations, making it essential to identify, understand, and address them effectively.  

This section explores some of the top internal security threats companies face, according to finding from our survey,  provides examples of how they occur, and offers insights into potential solutions. 

1. Employee mistake and human error (55%) 

Employee mistakes or human errors can present significant internal risks, potentially leading to data breaches, system vulnerabilities, and operational disruptions.  

Some examples include employees:  

• Falling victim to phishing scams.
• Inadvertently sharing sensitive information with unauthorized individuals.  
• Mishandling critical data through improper disposal methods. 

Such errors can be mitigated through:  

• Comprehensive employee training programs. 
• Enforcing robust data handling protocols. 
• Implementing strong access controls and monitoring mechanisms. 

2. Weak password hygiene (51%) 

Weak password hygiene can leave systems vulnerable to unauthorized access or compromise.  

Examples of how weak password hygiene can be an internal risk include employees:  

• Using easily guessable passwords. 
• Sharing passwords with colleagues. 
• Reusing the same password across multiple accounts.  

These practices increase the likelihood of successful brute-force attacks, unauthorized account access, or credential theft.  

To address this risk, organizations should:  

• Enforce strong password policies. 
• Implement multi-factor authentication. 
• Conduct regular employee training on password best practices to promote password hygiene. 

3. Mobile device vulnerabilities (38%) 

Mobile device vulnerabilities can expose sensitive data and networks to potential breaches and unauthorized access.  

Examples of how mobile device vulnerabilities include employees:  

• Downloading malicious applications that compromise device security. 
• Connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks. 
• Losing their devices without proper data encryption and remote wipe capabilities. 

These vulnerabilities can be mitigated by:  

• Implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions. 
• Enforcing security policies for mobile devices. 
• Regularly updating operating systems and applications. 
• Educating employees about safe mobile device practices. 

4. Inadequate data protection (34%) 

Inadequate data protection can leave sensitive information susceptible to unauthorized access, breaches, and regulatory non-compliance.  

Examples of how inadequate data protection can play out include: 

• Insufficient encryption of sensitive data. 
• Lack of access controls and permissions. 
• Inadequate backup and disaster recovery plans. 
• Poor data handling practices, such as leaving confidential documents unsecured or sharing them through unencrypted channels.  

These risks can be eliminated by implementing robust data protection measures, including:  

• Encryption technologies. 
• Access controls. 
• Regular data backups. 
• Employee training on data security protocols. 
• Compliance with relevant data protection regulations. 

5. Insufficient backup and recovery (32%) 

Insufficient backup and recovery processes can lead to data loss, prolonged downtime, and potential financial and operational repercussions.  

Examples of how insufficient backup and recovery processes can be an internal risk include: 

• In the event of a server failure or corruption, critical files may be irretrievably lost, leading to operational disruptions and potential financial loss. 
   
• If data is infiltrated and encrypted by malicious actors and there are no recent backups available, the organization may be forced to pay a ransom or suffer the permanent loss of important data. 

• Extended downtime during system outages or natural disasters is common without a backup plan. Here, the company may struggle to resume normal operations promptly, leading to decreased productivity and potential customer dissatisfaction. 

To alleviate these risks, organizations should: 

• Establish regular and automated backup procedures. 
• Implement off-site data storage. 
• Regularly test recovery processes. 
• Maintain comprehensive disaster recovery plans. 

6. Malicious employees (30%) 

Malicious employees can jeopardize sensitive data, sabotage systems, or engage in fraudulent activities.  

A few examples of how malicious employees can be internal risks include: 

• Employees may abuse their authorized access privileges to gain access to confidential information, such as customer data, trade secrets, or financial records, for personal gain or to sell to competitors. 
   
• A disgruntled employee might intentionally delete or alter crucial data, disrupt systems, or introduce malware or viruses into the company’s network. 
   
• An employee may engage in fraudulent activities, such as embezzlement, invoice manipulation, or misappropriation of funds. 
   

To mitigate these risks, organizations should:  

• Implement strong access controls and permissions. 
• Regularly monitor employee activities. 
• Conduct background checks during hiring. 
• Coster a positive and transparent work culture. 
• Establish clear policies and procedures for reporting suspicious behavior. 

7. Configuration mistakes (25%) 

Configuration mistakes can lead to vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or applications.  

Here are a few examples of how configuration mistakes can be internal risks: 

• Granting excessive privileges or failing to revoke access for employees who have left the company can expose critical resources to potential breaches. 

• Failure to properly configure security settings, such as firewall rules, encryption protocols, or intrusion detection systems, can create gaps in a company’s defense mechanisms. This may allow cyber attackers to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to systems or networks. 
  
• Neglecting to enforce strong password policies, such as requiring complex passwords or regularly changing them, can lead to an increased risk of unauthorized access. Weak passwords or default credentials can be easily exploited by attackers. 

To avoid these risks, organizations should:  

• Implement robust configuration management practices. 
• Conduct regular security audits. 
• Perform vulnerability assessments. 
• Establish a process for reviewing and validating configurations. 

8. Removable media (21%) 

Removable media, such as USB or external hard drives, can introduce internal risks within a company if not handled properly.  

Examples of how removable media can be a risk to businesses include: 

• When employees use removable media devices without proper scanning or security measures, they can unknowingly introduce malware or viruses into the company’s systems. Malicious code can spread quickly and compromise sensitive data or disrupt operations. 

• Employees may copy sensitive or confidential company information onto removable media devices to share or sell outside the organization. This can lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or compromise of trade secrets. 

• Misplacing or losing removable media devices that contain sensitive data can result in potential data loss or leakage. 
   

To stay clear of these issues, organizations should establish clear policies and guidelines regarding the use of removable media devices. This includes:  

• Implementing security measures such as encryption for sensitive data. 
• Disabling auto-run features. 
• Regularly scanning media devices for malware. 
• Restricting or monitoring the use of removable media based on business needs. 

What should you look for when mitigating internal threats? 

When it comes to avoiding internal threats, businesses must adopt proactive measures to protect their sensitive data and systems. Here are some important factors that organizations should consider: 

Access controls and privilege management 

Implement strong access controls and privilege management protocols to ensure employees have appropriate access rights based on their roles and responsibilities.  

Regularly review and revoke access privileges for employees who no longer require them. 

Employee education and awareness  

Promote a culture of security awareness and provide comprehensive training to employees on internal threats, best practices for data handling, and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.  

Encourage employees to follow security protocols and reinforce the significance of maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of company data. 

Monitoring and auditing 

Implement robust monitoring and auditing mechanisms to detect unusual activities or potential breaches.  

This includes monitoring network traffic, access logs, and user behavior to identify unauthorized access attempts or suspicious actions. 

Data protection and encryption 

Implement data protection measures, including encryption and secure file-sharing solutions, to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access or data leakage.  

Encrypting sensitive data both at rest and in transit adds an extra layer of protection against internal threats. 

WinZip Enterprise offers businesses a single solution to address internal threats effectively. With its comprehensive suite of features, WinZip helps organizations respond to the diverse security risks they face. 

WinZip empowers businesses to combat external threats by offering advanced encryption capabilities, secure file transfer functionality, and comprehensive data loss prevention measures. With our software, organizations can protect their assets from cyberattacks, unauthorized access, and data leakage caused by external threat actors. 

Try it now and learn how to safeguard your organization’s future. 

Download our report today to learn more about threats to your data security. 

In today’s digital environments, data security threats are a constant and growing concern for organizations of all types and sizes. As technology advances, cloud adoption increases, and remote work or “work-from-anywhere” scenarios become the standard, the risks associated with data breaches, cyberattacks, and unauthorized access to sensitive information have grown exponentially — and so have the costs associated with them. 

The WinZip® Enterprise team recently conducted a survey that revealed growing concern about the number and complexity of cyber threats faced by businesses today. Accordingly, there is a urgent need for organizations to address these data security risks promptly and effectively.  

Read on to explore the reasons behind the escalating concerns about data security threats and discover the corresponding measures that organizations can take to mitigate these risks. 

External security threats versus internal security threats 

To fully safeguard against data security threats, organizations must stay vigilant against both external and internal threats.  

Malware, phishing attacks, ransomware, and hacking attempts — any security breach or attempted breach that originates outside the organization — falls under the umbrella of external threats.  

Internal threats, on the other hand, involve security breaches that start inside the organization itself, and they may involve unauthorized access by employees, contractors, or disgruntled insiders, or even a purposeful leak of information by an authorized party. In addition, internal threats may be less malicious in nature and arise from human error, like poor or weak passwords or improper security configurations.  

A solid understanding of the different types of common data security threats is crucial for implementing appropriate security protocols and strategies.   

Big data, the cloud, and the inherent data security risks 

You are no doubt aware of the concept of big data and the potential it holds, both for your organization in particular and the technology realm as a whole. However, with great potential comes great challenges, especially in regard to maintaining data security.  

These vast amounts of data collected, analyzed, and stored pose a unique risk, since big data is an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities in data storage and processing systems. Protecting big data requires robust security frameworks that address all the complexities and potential vulnerabilities associated with its storage, transfer, and analysis.  

Big data security threats are not the only challenge that has recently arisen. Cloud vulnerabilities and the associated potential data breaches are a growing issue, and with more organizations choosing to leverage the cloud the associated  

The current state of data security   

As part of the recent survey, organizations rated their current state of data security. Their responses showed a substantial lack of confidence with their current data security, which highlights the need for organizations to regularly reevaluate their security strategies and ensure that they’ve made the necessary updates and improvements to protect their valuable data. 

To improve the condition and strength of their security, organizations are increasing their budgets, spending more on items like training for both end-users and IT administrators. After all, educating all team members about best practices for data protection and raising awareness throughout the organization about potential threats, companies can help to significantly reduce the risk of human error or negligence leading to security breaches.  

In addition, investing in advanced security tools and technology can provide more comprehensive protection against emerging data security threats and vulnerabilities.  

Why investing in data security is more important than ever 

In response to escalating threats to data security, many organizations are ramping up their efforts and budget allocations for data security. In 2023, global data security spending is projected to reach nearly $219 billion, a 12.1% year over year increase from 2022 according to the International Data Corporation (IDC). And that number is only likely to grow as new threats arise. This significant increase underscores the growing recognition among organizations that investing in robust data security measures is imperative for their long-term viability and reputation.  

Staying informed about emerging data security risks 

Among the measures being taken by security-savvy organizations is ongoing education for IT professionals and end-users alike. To stay ahead of evolving data threats, professionals must continually educate themselves about the latest challenges and associated technologies.  

According to the survey, many professionals rely on industry reports, publications, and advice from leaders and experts to stay informed. By actively seeking knowledge and staying updated on security trends and issues, organizations can adapt their security strategies and make informed decisions when selecting new security solutions and developing new strategies.  

Choosing the most advantageous security solutions  

When seeking new solutions to help handle any current or future data security threats, organizations must consider multiple factors. For instance, solutions that offer comprehensive protection, advanced threat detection capabilities, and robust encryption methods will form a strong foundation for a solid data security strategy. What’s more, solutions that help to mitigate emerging issues, such as challenges related to big data and security threats to cloud data can help to future proof an organization’s data security measures.  

Implementing cutting-edge technology, empowering IT teams with real-time threat intelligence and information, and other proactive defense mechanisms can help prevent data security threats from turning into actual data security breaches. 

Data security threats pose an ever-growing concern for organizations in today’s challenging digital landscape. Risks associated with cyberattacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive data demand proactive measures to safeguard valuable information. What’s more, by investing in security training, adopting advanced security solutions, and staying informed about emerging threats, organizations can protect their valuable data assets from malicious actors and maintain their competitive edge.  

Access the full report to gain deeper insights into the constantly shifting landscape of data security threats and download your trial of WinZip® Enterprise to discover more about protecting your organization from today’s data security threats. 

As technology evolves and more organizations turn to cloud computing solutions, data security becomes more important — and more challenging — than ever. While the cloud offers numerous benefits for businesses, including scalability, cost-effectiveness, and remote work capabilities (just to name a few), it also introduces new security risks and vulnerabilities.  

Let’s explore the challenges that organizations face along with practical, actionable solutions and cloud security data programs that help to mitigate the risks.  

The growing issue of cloud security risks 

According to a recent report from Cloud Computing News, a staggering 81% of companies experienced a cloud security incident in the past year alone. This statistic highlights the pressing need for organizations to address cloud security concerns, particularly as the global cloud computing market continues to expand. Clearly, ensuring data security in the cloud is crucial for any organization currently utilizing or considering moving to the cloud.  

While the adoption of the cloud has been invaluable in facilitating remote work and moreover, revolutionized the way that we store, process, and even analyze data, it brings with it certain vulnerabilities that amplify data security risks.  

This is why organizations need to implement robust cloud storage security measures even as they enjoy the myriad advantages of the cloud, since proper encryption strategies, access controls or user access policies, and regular vulnerability assessments are all crucial for keeping your organization’s data secure in the cloud.  

Why the cloud amplifies security threats 

Cloud computing presents unique security vulnerabilities that organizations must address to protect their sensitive data. Read on to uncover some of the top data security vulnerabilities in the cloud and explore strategies to safeguard your organization’s data.  

• Misconfigured cloud storage. Misconfigurations in cloud storage can inadvertently expose sensitive information to unauthorized access. To prevent this issue, the team members responsible for data security should double-check cloud storage security configurations during the initial setup and verify that they are still correct on a regular basis as well as after any major changes are made. Additionally, controlling who can create and configure cloud resources, developing and maintaining strict user access policies, and utilizing specialized tools to assess security configurations can bolster data protection.  

• Shared infrastructure risks in the public cloud. Since cloud services are often shared among multiple users and organizations, the security of one entity can impact others. This means that a security flaw in the cloud provider’s infrastructure or misconfigurations can potentially expose the data of multiple customers on that cloud simultaneously, amplifying the impact of a security incident.  

• Data transfer and storage vulnerabilities. The cloud relies on data transmission and storage over networks and third-party servers, introducing additional risks. Data in transit may be susceptible to interception and unauthorized access if not properly encrypted. Similarly, data at rest within cloud storage systems can be compromised if the cloud provider does not implement vigorous encryption and access controls.  

• Increased attack surfaces. Cloud environments are often composed of multiple interconnected systems and networks, creating a larger attack surface for potential intrusions. Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in one part of the cloud infrastructure to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored elsewhere, leading to potential data breaches or unauthorized data modifications.  

• Loss or theft of intellectual property. The loss or theft of intellectual property (IP) is a major concern for organizations that leverage the cloud. Data alteration, deletion, and loss of access are common causes of IP data breaches. Organizations can mitigate these risks by prioritizing regular backups, employing data loss prevention (DLP) software, and implementing stringent encryption practices. Geo-diversifying backups or backing up data in multiple locations ensures redundancy and enhances data resilience.  

• Compliance violations or regulatory actions. Simply transferring applications to a public or shared cloud does not guarantee regulatory compliance, even if you use a trusted cloud provider. In fact, compliance in the cloud can be even more challenging than keeping your data on-premises due to privacy mandates like CCPA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. To address this concern, organizations should carefully review cloud service agreements, seek clear cloud and data security policies, and establish an incident response plan for any violations related to cloud computing. Data security strategies that include encryption according to the necessary standards also facilitate compliance.  

• Poor or improper access management. Improper access management remains one of the most prevalent cloud computing security risks. Issues such as managing a distributed (remote or hybrid) workforce, user password fatigue or improper/poorly chosen passwords, inactive assigned users, and multiple administrator accounts can compromise data security. Organizations can counter these risks by developing a comprehensive data governance framework, link human user accounts to centralized directories, and regularly audit user roles, privileges, and access via a rigid user access policy. 

Choosing effective cloud security solutions: what to look for in cloud security 

If your organization is moving to the cloud or already leverages cloud computing, it is essential to seek a security solution with the features that best align with your specific needs, including any industry-specific regulations or standards that you must adhere to such as HIPAA, GDPR, or similar governance. What’s more, if your IT department needs to provide staff with secure remote access to the cloud, tightly controlled security becomes more vital. 

A data security solution that works in the cloud and offers data protection, encryption, and access management tools will enable your organization to address security challenges in 2023 — and beyond, enhancing your cloud security posture and protecting critical business assets.  

Learn more about mitigating cloud security risks  

The growing popularity of the cloud means that cloud vulnerabilities have become a major challenge for IT departments and anyone else responsible for data security at their organization. In fact, we recently surveyed nearly 500 data security professionals about the state of data security in 2023, and cloud security risks were the second most reported external security threat, with 42% of survey respondents claiming that it was a major concern for their organization. 

The security of cloud computing in 2023 — and beyond  

It goes to follow that securing the cloud is paramount in today’s era of remote work and users needing to access sensitive company data from anywhere, using any device. While cloud computing offers immense benefits, data security professionals need to be proactive about the security risks posed by switching to the cloud.  

By implementing measures to prevent misconfigurations, protect intellectual property, ensure regulatory compliance, and strengthen access management, organizations can protect their data in the cloud. Embracing an effective data security solution like WinZip® Enterprise can fortify your organization’s defenses and mitigate emerging threats in the cloud (and elsewhere).

Try it now and learn how to safeguard your organization’s future. 

Access the full survey report!