Cyber Security Threat Management: Analysing Your Internal Security Threats

Lack of security awareness and rushing through staff on-boarding also make up the perfect context for a cyber-attack with a high probability of success. Due to the nature of their job, a lot of employees go through dozens of emails from customers, suppliers and advertisers and manage orders through corporate or third-party applications on daily basis, without having completed necessary security training.

Cybercriminals are aware of the lack of cyber security training amongst most users, and they take advantage of it through social engineering and phishing methods.  

Using what appear to be legitimate business email accounts, attackers can persuade unsuspecting employees to:

• Share sensitive information

• Reveal login credentials

• Transfer funds

• Open malicious attachments

Using what seems to be legitimate-looking corporate email accounts, cyber attackers can request unsuspecting staff to send over personal information or even make bank transfers. Although it may sound like an obvious scam, social engineering is still a common threat affecting companies.

Untrained employees may not find logging onto a social media site from a corporate network-attached device or opening an email attachment sent by genuine-looking business contact as a potential treat, but that may lead to malicious files being downloaded that can compromise your entire company’s infrastructure. 

When it comes to cyber security, organisations should adopt a proactive approach rather than waiting until an attack occurs.

Beloware some of the most important safeguard measures your company needs to take:

Personalised cyber security training

It is crucial that staff are taught how to recognise cyber threats, they are aware of the risks they entail and how to prevent those threats.

Cyber security training must be tailored to the nature of your business and the specific role and responsibilities of each employee.  Different departments face different risks depending on the systems and data they access.

Backup copies of files

Backup copies of key files must be taken and saved to a server and uploaded to the cloud. In the worst case of ransomware attack when access to your equipment is blocked and information in encrypted, you will have a backup copy of all your files.

Implement class leading Managed Security Information Event Management (SIEM)

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions provide a comprehensive view of both internal and external threats.

By consolidating log events and network data from thousands of devices, organisations can:

• Detect suspicious activity

• Identify unusual employee behaviour

• Prioritise threats more effectively

• Improve incident response 

Many organisations struggle with the resources and expertise required to manage a SIEM platform internally. Celerity's Fully Managed SIEM Service helps businesses gain valuable security insights without the operational burden.

Antivirus programmes Keep systems anti-virus software updated

Operating systems, applications, and antivirus solutions should always be kept up to date. Regular updates help protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. 

Employees should also be encouraged to: 

• Avoid suspicious email attachments

• Verify links before clicking

• Scan USB drives before use

• Report unusual activity immediately

Company policies for handling sensitive data

 Businesses should establish clear policies for employees who handle sensitive company or customer information.

These policies should ensure compliance with GDPR requirements and clearly define how data should be stored, accessed, and shared.

Strong governance is a key component of successful cyber security threat management.

Develop a security breach response plan 

Every organisation should have a documented process for responding to suspected cyber incidents. 

Employees should know:

• Who to contact

• How to report suspicious activity

• What immediate actions to take

• How to minimise potential damage

Having a clear response plan can significantly reduce the impact of a cyber-attack.

Internal cyber threats are just one of the ways malicious actors can gain access to company systems and networks. Without effective cyber security threat management, these risks can result in widespread disruption, financial losses, and reputational damage.

By combining employee training, security monitoring, robust backup strategies, and clear governance policies, organisations can significantly strengthen their security posture and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

If you want to identify gaps in your cyber security strategy, exploreCelerity's managed cyber security services to assess your current security controls and implement practical solutions that improve visibility, detection, and resilience. 

Understanding ransomware risk is an important part of effective cyber security governance. Download Celerity's guide, What Boards of Directors Must Know About Ransomware, to learn how leadership teams can better prepare for modern cyber threats and strengthen organisational resilience.

If you'd like expert support, speak to the cyber security specialists at Celerity. Our team can help you identify vulnerabilities, improve threat detection, and develop a cyber security threat management strategy tailored to your organisation's needs.