The #1 Reason Behind a Cybersecurity Breach Happens and How to Prevent It

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Cybersecurity is a crucial aspect of any modern business operation – big or small. And with the increasing reliance on digital tools and SaaS platforms, it’s more important than ever to protect your business from a data breach and prevent cyber threats. 

Despite the availability of advanced security technologies and best practices, cybersecurity breaches are happening in businesses every single day. 

But according to a recent report by IBM, 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error and actually have more to do with your business-wide security protocols than cyber criminals being exceptionally good at – well, being cybercriminals. 

This statistic highlights one thing – the critical role that your employees play in maintaining the security of an organization’s data and systems.

In this blog post, we’ll explore three ways you can address cybersecurity with your team and finally reduce the risk of a business-wide attack. But first, let’s take a closer look at why our business and employees are such a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches.

How is the major cause of a cybersecurity breach usually internal?

There are quite a few reasons why our internal processes make cyber attacks possible. For one, cybercriminals are evolving every day and becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, making it more challenging for even the most advanced security technologies to detect and prevent attacks. 

As a result, your team may fall prey to phishing scams, malware, or other social engineering tactics that cybercriminals use to gain access to your business’s SaaS systems and data.

Let’s not forget to add that the simple fact that businesses are working remotely and likely using personal devices for work-related tasks creates an increased risk of cyber threats immediately. Your personal devices usually don’t have the same level of security measures in place, especially not as secure as a company-owned device, which makes you even more vulnerable to attacks.

Finally, human error may occur simply because employees are not aware of the potential risks or don’t understand how to use security tools and technologies effectively. This is why education and training are critical components of any effective cybersecurity strategy.

Now that we’ve explored why your internal policies and operations are such a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, let’s take a closer look at three ways you can address this issue and reduce the risk of a breach occurring in your business.

1. Create (and Implement) Strong Password Policies

One of the most common causes of cybersecurity breaches is weak or easily guessable passwords. Not only that, many businesses may use the same password across multiple accounts, use simple passwords that can be easily guessed, or even store their passwords in a place where they can be easily found by others.

Of course, you often do this to simplify your processes initially, right? Who has time to create (and remember) a unique 12-character password for each account you use online? Unfortunately, this kind of thinking ends up being the very reason a security breach is possible. 

To fix this issue, you can implement a strong password policy that requires employees to use complex passwords, change them quarterly, and, of course, avoid using the same password across multiple accounts. Fortunately, a lot of SaaS platforms have a built-in strong password generator when you are creating or changing a password. 

You can also use a password management tool, like LastPass, which can generate and store strong passwords securely. 

2. Keep Your Team in the Know with Regular Cybersecurity Training

Another way to keep your team secure is by providing regular training to your employees on how to recognize and respond to potential cyber threats. This training can cover topics such as how to identify phishing emails, how to avoid downloading malware, and how to use security tools effectively.

By offering regular cybersecurity training, your employees are actively aware of the potential risks and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to mitigate them effectively.

3. Take Advantage of Multi-Factor Authentication

So many SaaS platforms that you use each day offer multi-factor authentication (MFA). This  is a built-in security measure that requires users to provide two or more forms of authentication before accessing a system or application. Business owners with a remote team are hesitant to implement this one because it delays their employees from getting access to the account they need to complete their work. However, it’s a security measure that is worth the extra time. 

This type of measure reduces the risk of a cybersecurity breach because it adds an additional layer of security beyond just a password, so even if an unauthorized person managed to get your password, they couldn’t access it, and you would be notified immediately with the verification code. 

If you get this notification, it is a great time to pop into your account and change your password so that the person doesn’t try that password on all your other accounts. 

Setting Your Business Up for Success

Since over 95% of cybersecurity breaches are possible because of a lack of in-house password management & security processes, that means that 95% of those attacks are preventable with a few tweaks that are free to implement. 

If you need support to develop a more robust cybersecurity plan, contact one of our experts at JEI Tech today.

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