Every business that operates from a minimum of one piece of digital hardware, be it a laptop, PC, smartphone, or otherwise, is going to face digital security concerns. It’s the nature of the game these days. However, the specific rules of the game change from business to business and, as your business grows larger, while some threats might grow less concerning, there are others that are going to take prominence. Digital security is not a field in which you can afford to fall behind. Here, we’re going to look at the threats you should keep an eye on as your business continues to grow.
Authentication Issues
Authentication is the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your systems, and its importance grows as your organization scales. Admin accounts, in particular, are high-value targets for attackers because they provide access to critical systems and sensitive data. Weak or reused passwords amplify the risk of breaches, making robust authentication practices essential.
Future-proof your business by enforcing strong password policies requiring complexity, length, and periodic updates. Where possible, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for an additional layer of security. This ensures that even if credentials are compromised, access is restricted without secondary authentication. Moreover, admin accounts should be limited to necessary personnel, reducing the risk of exposure. Regular audits of user accounts can help identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with digital security protocols.
Lingering Account Permissions
As your team grows and evolves, managing user permissions becomes increasingly complex. A significant risk arises when employee accounts are not deactivated promptly upon their departure, leaving access to sensitive systems open. Lingering permissions expose your business to insider threats and external attacks that exploit dormant accounts.
Automating offboarding procedures is an effective way to mitigate this risk. Implement systems that immediately deactivate accounts and revoke permissions when an employee exits the organization. Periodic reviews of active accounts and their associated permissions ensure that only authorized users retain access. By integrating identity and access management (IAM) solutions, you can streamline this process and maintain better control over user access.
Using Unencrypted Data Transfers
Data transfers are an integral part of modern business operations, but transmitting information without encryption exposes it to interception and theft. Cybercriminals can exploit unsecured connections to capture sensitive information, leading to data breaches and potential legal consequences.
Ensure that all data transfers, whether internal or external, are encrypted using robust protocols like HTTPS, SSL/TLS, or end-to-end encryption. This applies to emails, file-sharing platforms, and any other communication channels. Training employees to recognize and avoid insecure transfer methods further reduces the risk of exposing critical information during routine operations.
Losing Unstructured Data
As businesses grow, they accumulate vast amounts of unstructured data, such as emails, documents, and multimedia files. Managing and securing this data becomes increasingly challenging, leaving it vulnerable to loss or unauthorized access. The lack of a clear strategy for organizing and protecting unstructured data can lead to compliance violations and operational disruptions.
Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools offer a necessary solution. How a DSPM works is by providing visibility into your data assets, identifying sensitive information, and implementing controls to secure it. These tools automate data classification, monitor access patterns, and highlight potential risks, helping you protect unstructured data effectively. Regular backups and adherence to data protection regulations further strengthen your data security posture.
The Risk of Intrusion
As your network infrastructure expands, so does the risk of intrusion by external attackers. Cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit vulnerabilities, gain unauthorized access, and disrupt operations. The challenge for growing businesses is detecting these threats early enough to prevent significant damage.
Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are invaluable in combating this risk. These systems monitor network traffic for signs of suspicious activity and alert your digital security team to potential threats. Modern IDS solutions leverage machine learning to identify patterns indicative of attacks, even if they are new or previously unseen. By automating threat detection, you can respond more swiftly and reduce the impact of intrusions on your business.
Not Knowing Your Weaknesses
Understanding your digital vulnerabilities is critical to preventing security breaches. As your business grows, the attack surface expands, increasing the likelihood of unpatched systems, misconfigured devices, or overlooked weaknesses. Failing to identify and address these issues leaves your business exposed.
Penetration testing is a proactive approach to uncovering vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, penetration testers assess your systems for weaknesses and provide actionable recommendations for remediation. Regular testing ensures that your security measures remain effective as your business and technology stack evolves.
Having No Crisis Management Plan
A robust crisis management plan is a cornerstone of effective digital security. Despite your best efforts, no system is entirely immune to breaches or cyberattacks. Without a clear plan in place, your business may struggle to respond effectively to incidents, leading to prolonged downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Developing a comprehensive incident response plan helps your team act swiftly and decisively during a crisis. Define roles and responsibilities, establish communication protocols, and document procedures for containment, investigation, and recovery. Regular drills and updates to the plan ensure your team is prepared to handle emerging threats and minimize the impact of security incidents.
Not Having Data Backups in Place
Data is one of your most valuable assets, and its loss can cripple your business. Whether due to hardware failure, ransomware attacks, or accidental deletion, the risk of data loss grows as your operations scale. A lack of reliable backups can result in permanent data loss and significant downtime.
Implementing a robust backup strategy is essential for safeguarding your information. Use the 3-2-1 rule: maintain three copies of your data (primary and two backups), store them on two different media, and keep one copy offsite. Regularly test your backups to ensure their integrity and accessibility when needed. Automating the backup process reduces the risk of human error and ensures consistent protection for your growing data assets.
As your business grows from a small-to-medium sized organization to a bigger organization and, eventually, an enterprise, you need to make sure that you’re handling its digital security needs. The tips above should help you do just that.
