Network security breaches and attacks are common these days and increasing rapidly due to many reasons—including human and employee errors.
According to an IBM study, employee errors and security mistakes are the primary cause of 95% of cyber security breaches. In addition, the IBM data suggests that a data security breach’s average cost was 4.24 million in 2021.
Occasional employee errors and common cyber security mistakes harm the company’s network, threaten its security posture, and increase organisations’ cyber security costs.
In this article, we see common network security mistakes employees make and how to prevent them. So, let’s dive right into it.
Contents
Common employee security mistakes
Here are the four network security mistakes employees make and ways to prevent them from avoiding unnecessary costs and cybersecurity risks.
1. Using weak and easy-to-guess passwords
Using weak and vulnerable passwords is the most common network security threat as cybercriminals use advanced technologies and solutions to guess passwords and hack into your network and systems.
It’s important for employees to educate them about using strong passwords, their importance, and how to make one—especially for sensitive and critical business data. Thus, ensure to use strong passwords and implement password-protection systems like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and regularly update passwords for an additional layer of security against hackers.
2. Using unknown devices
Employees make another common mistake using external and unauthorised devices like USBs and plug-in them on office devices and laptops—harming network security.
The issue with these external devices is that they may contain harmful viruses–-which may spread from one infected device to another. Hence, employees should refrain from using these unknown and external devices that aren’t network authorised.
The solution is to use Zero Trust Network Access solutions that provide access to only authenticated users and authorised devices to access the network and its applications.
3. Using traditional VPNs
With the remote working environment, organisations are using traditional VPN solutions to access the company’s network and applications.
However, VPNs enforce perimeter-based security and provide the entire network access to the users—assuming unwarranted network visibility and becoming more prone to being compromised.
Thus, instead of VPNs—you must employ Zero Trust Network solutions to restrict user access, make your network invisible and inaccessible to the internet, and remove excessive trust from the network with its ‘Never Trust, Always Verify’ solution.
4. Using free or public Wi-Fi and hotspots for work
Connecting to free and public Wi-Fi to access the company’s network increases the risk of the networks getting hacked easily. Thus, a public internet network allows hackers to access the network’s confidential data and sensitive information easily.
Using free Wi-Fi and hotspots, hackers install malware on the employee’s devices that have enabled file-sharing on their devices. Thus, it’s better and more secure to use a private internet network or Zero Trust Network security that removes exposed IP addresses and prevent hackers from accessing the network and its resources.
Conclusion
Educating employees regarding the best cybersecurity practices is the best way to eliminate employee errors and ensure corporate security. In addition, this helps prevent hackers from accessing and attacking the systems, avoid expensive cybersecurity costs, and secures your company’s infrastructure.
If you’re looking for a secure Zero Trust Network Access solution, check out InstaSafe’s products to minimise the attack surface and leverage granular access and visibility across your company network. Thus, eliminate employee security mistakes by leveraging the benefits of the Zero Trust Network design for your organisation.