When it comes to cyber threats, a lot of organizations focus on external dangers; hackers, malware, and data breaches. However one of the most significant and overlooked risks often comes from within your own organization; your employees.
A study by Kaspersky found that in the past two years, 26% of cyber incidents were due to employees intentionally violating security protocols, nearly matching the 30% caused by external hacking attempts.
While employees are essential to the success of your business, their access to sensitive information can inadvertently or intentionally become security risks.
This is especially true when it comes to Identity and Access Management (IAM), a crucial system for controlling who can access what, when, and how.
Unfortunately, improper IAM practices can lead to vulnerabilities that employees may exploit, whether intentionally or not.
Here’s how:
1. Unrestricted Access Rights
One of the most common internal IAM risks is giving employees unfettered access to systems and data that aren’t necessary for their job. Over-permissioning is a big risk in many organizations, where employees may have access to sensitive information or critical systems beyond their role.
2. Weak Authentication Practices
Weak passwords, reusing passwords across platforms, and not enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) are all IAM issues that put businesses at risk. Even employees with good intentions can compromise security if they aren’t following best practices for authentication.
3. Lack of Biometric Authentication
Without biometric authentication, employees can share or misuse credentials, making it harder to verify identities. Adding fingerprint or facial recognition ensures only authorized users access critical systems, reducing insider threats.
4. Inadequate Exit Management
When employees leave a company, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, it’s critical that their access to systems and data is promptly revoked. Failing to do so can leave the door open for former employees to exploit lingering access to sensitive areas.
5. Privileged Account Abuse
Privileged accounts, such as those held by system administrators or executives, have extensive access to sensitive systems. If these accounts are not properly managed or monitored, they become prime targets for abuse, whether it’s intentional or unintentional
Strengthening IAM to Protect Your Business
The reality is clear: your employees, whether intentionally or unintentionally, can pose a significant risk to your company’s security through improper identity and access management practices.
These risks can be mitigated with SeamFix iAM
Now you can
- Implement strong authentication protocols, such as biometric multi-factor authentication (MFA), to protect against unauthorized access.
- Establish clear role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit access to sensitive systems.
- Implement the principle of least privilege, ensuring employees only have access to the systems and data necessary for their role.
- Ensure proper exit management to revoke access for departing employees immediately.
- Monitor privileged account activity closely to avoid misuse of powerful accounts.
By integrating Seamfix iAM best practices, you can turn your employees from potential threats into your first line of defense.
When every member of the team understands their role in protecting the company’s digital assets, your business can operate with confidence, knowing that security isn’t just an IT responsibility — it’s a shared responsibility.
Manage your employees’ access like a pro with Seamfix iAM!
Book a free consultation today to see how it works and streamline your workforce access control.
