Half of staff have too much access to data

Consider this thought-provoking question: Are you aware of exactly who in your company currently has access to your critical data?

More importantly, is that access essential for them to perform their duties?

If you're like most business owners, you might believe that access is managed during initial setup and then forgotten. However, recent studies suggest otherwise.

Research indicates that about half of employees in businesses have access to significantly more data than necessary.

This poses a significant issue.

The concern isn't just the potential for malicious activity, but also the possibility of mistakes. When individuals can access information they don't need, it increases the likelihood of errors, breaches, and complications with compliance and audits.

This situation is referred to as insider risk.

It refers to the risk originating from individuals within your organization, whether they are employees, contractors, or anyone else with system access.

Sometimes, insider risk is intentional, such as when someone steals data.

However, it is more often unintentional. Someone might click the wrong link, send data to the wrong person, or retain access after leaving the company. That's when problems arise.

One major issue is known as "privilege creep".

This occurs when individuals gradually accumulate more access than they need, often due to role changes, being added to new systems, or a lack of scrutiny over their permissions.

Research shows that only a small fraction of businesses actively manage this issue effectively. As a result, vast amounts of data remain vulnerable.

Even more concerning, nearly half of businesses acknowledge that some former employees retain system access months after departure. This is akin to leaving your office keys with someone who no longer works for you.

The solution is to ensure that employees have access only to what they need, and nothing beyond that. This approach is often referred to as "least privilege".

It involves configuring systems so that permissions are restricted to essentials, with access granted temporarily as needed. This is sometimes known as "just in time" access.

Equally important, when someone exits your company, their access should be immediately revoked.

In today's environment of cloud applications, AI tools, and "invisible IT" (where software is used without IT's awareness), this becomes more challenging. However, it's not impossible. It requires a proactive approach.

Regularly reviewing access permissions, tightening controls, and utilizing tools to automate these processes can make a significant impact.

The goal isn't to hinder productivity. It's to safeguard your data, protect your customers, and uphold your business's reputation.

If you need assistance in evaluating the security of your access controls, reach out. It's better to be informed now than after a breach occurs.