Do you know that your employees are probably the most dangerous security threat to your IT infrastructure?

Most business owners think that their company's data is secure when it is in their office with them. The truth is, data breaches occur every day by trusted employees, many of whom aren't even in the same building where your system lives. For example, an employee who works in one city may send sensitive files over email to a coworker who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away.

If there isn't some encryption in place on the email server (like TLS/SSL), anybody between the two locations can read the contents of that email while it travels over public internet servers. Another example would be sending files via FTP or Dropbox (News - Alert) without encrypting them first. These files can be intercepted and read by anyone with access to the network.

The best way to keep your data safe from the inside out is to use a comprehensive security solution. One that encrypts all of your data, both in transit and at rest. Proper security includes email, file transfers, and even cloud storage. In addition, make sure that you use strong passwords and two-factor authentication whenever possible.

Here are a few ways to keep your data safe from the inside out.

Enforce a Thorough Security Policy

A security policy not only governs how your employees use company resources but also includes rules about what they should and shouldn't be doing. For example, you might ban the storage of sensitive information in cloud-based services like Dropbox and Google (News - Alert) Drive. You may even forbid the use of personal email accounts for business purposes.

Enforcing a thorough security policy is one of the best ways to keep your data safe from the inside out.

Educate as a Team

You can help protect yourself from insider threats by teaching your team to identify potential security risks. For example, you might send a training document that outlines what constitutes an "insider threat" and how it happens. Training could be everything from emailing client information to their accounts or sending files through unencrypted cloud service portals like Box (News - Alert) and Dropbox. After all, the employees you surround yourself with will determine whether your company is at risk for a data breach!

Work On Your Passwords

It would be best if you also worked on your passwords. Weak passwords are one of the most common ways that data breaches occur. Over 60% of data breaches happen because of weak or easily guessed passwords.

You should make sure you use complex passwords that are different for every account and change them regularly. You can also use a password manager to help you keep track of all your different passwords.

Separation of Duties

Another way to help protect your data from the inside out is to use separation of duties ( SoD ) policy. SoD is a security principle that separates tasks into different hands so that no one person has complete control over a process.

For example, you might have one employee who creates new user accounts and another who assigns passwords. SoD helps to prevent unauthorized access to data and systems. You can also use SoD to help limit the damage an insider threat can do.

Think about how you can implement SoD in your own business, and you'll be well on your way to keeping your data safe from the inside out!

Beware of Former Employees

Before you hire a new employee, you should take a moment to think about their previous job. Were they laid off or fired? If so, you may want to be a little more cautious in your vetting process

Former employees can be a major threat to data security, especially if they have inside knowledge of your systems and processes. They may also have access to sensitive information that they can use to blackmail or harm your company.

Be sure to revoke access to all company resources as soon as possible and change all passwords associated with the former employee. Also, make sure you monitor their activity on social media and other public forums for any mention of your company or its confidential data.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your data safe from the inside out can be a daunting task, but it's important to take the necessary precautions. Using a comprehensive security solution, educating your team, and working on your passwords can help protect yourself from insider threats. And don't forget to be vigilant about former employees! Implementing SoD can go a long way in preventing data breaches. Stay safe!