How to Prevent Insider Data Breaches at your Business

Security systems are installed within the premise of a workplace to avoid any external threats to the business. People often neglect that with keeping the external security intact, internal security is also a major factor that needs to be taken into consideration. To run a business without proper controls for data breach and security to protect the insider information of the business is like walking on thin ice – you always have the potential to fall.

What is a data breach?

We can refer to a data breach as a leak/disclosure of confidential data to an environment that cannot be trusted. This practice can be done intentionally or intentionally. The type of data breached is depended upon the intentions of the breacher and the type of company they are dealing with. With the rise of eCommerce development services, a data breach has become quite common among competitors and foes. To protect the personal data from falling into the hands of the wrong person, one must take measures to prevent insider data breaches to take place at your business.

Threat and its types

Data threat, as depicted by its name, is a danger to the privacy of the company data, for example, an attacker trying to access your data or trying to take control of your network. This malicious outside threat is one thing that can be catered with the help of firewalls and antiviruses. But there is another threat that can be much more dangerous i.e. the insider one. Sometimes employees of a company can breach the terms and conditions of maintaining privacy and leak the data. The reason for an insider attack can be because of certain reasons:

• Personal benefit
• No goodwill with the company
• Monetary benefit
• Employee was hired without a background check

Types of an Insider Threat

• Hateful Insider

When an employee who has been given access to the company data, tries to access the main data vault or as they say, server to get their hands on the private information of the business. The process is intentional; hence the employee is completely responsible for the deed being done within the premises. To provide access to an external party is also considered as a part of this threat.

• Accidental Data Breach

While some employees get through the privacy of a company with their full consent, others might not have the same intentions. Accidentally sending data to the wrong recipient or opening links that could result in severe hacking and sensitive information being sent to the attackers are such examples. The reason for an accidental data breach is a lack of “security education” or “experience”. Enabling good security measures on the internet and informing the employees on how to keep themselves safe from such hazards is a good way to reduce accidental data breach.

• Third-Party Access

When a third party person such as a consultant or a contractor is given access to the company data, the practice could intentionally or unintentionally go out of your hands. Unless it is contracted and legalized, authorizing access to a third party person to your data can be a cause of issue for the privacy of the company. Employees who commit this act are equally responsible.

• Past Employees

If you have been unable to change credentials, it is a possibility that your previous employees who have had a bad tenure or personal reason of termination can harm your company.

Prevention of Data Breach

1. Controlled Access

To reduce the risk of your employees acting as cybercriminals and getting their hands dirty on confidential data, it is important that you control the accessibility of the data. To implement this method, role-based access control is an effective and efficient method of allowing a specific control to the data. This way an employee will be allowed to have access to the amount of data that they need to complete their daily tasks.

2. Data Usage Policy

To inform your employees about the importance of company data, you must educate them on their roles and responsibilities when dealing with sensitive information. Educate them on employee roles, a guideline on data security, protection and privacy as well as the consequences they can face in case of breach of policy and the data privacy code of conduct.

3. Educate your Employees

If your employees are not well-informed on how to tackle the data and maintain its privacy, then they need some basic training on how to prevent their system from getting threats. Nowadays, big companies and firms, hold training sessions with professionals so their employees are well educated and informed on this sensitive subject. An accidental data breach can be reduced significantly if the employees are well trained and educated.

4. Review and Reduce

Keep a regular eye on the users' systems’ to make sure that any data that they do not have access to any unnecessary or unrequired data. Also, enabling stronger credentials with limited user access and keeping them up to date can make your server and network strong and help in maintaining privacy.

5. Endpoint Protection

To prevent the possibility of an accidental data breach, one of the most convenient methods after training your employees, is enabling an endpoint edge data protection. All you have to do is block any kind of access to an unknown source, webpage or email links. Through the use of a firewall, edge protection blocks any kind of responsive website containing viruses to enter your system.

6. Access to Data

Company matters should remain within the company. Hence, it is a good option to allow your employees to use company information and data only on the company property and network. Using company data on one’s device can be a matter of issue involving threats of data breach and security compromise. Coming to the end of the topic, we know that protecting data from insider threats is as important as it is from the outside threats. Needless to say, an insider threat holds more harm than an outsider one hence we must consider protecting data before it faces any kind of breach and compromise. Introducing proper security methods and checks is prudent before you face the loss to regret life.