Cybersecurity Risks in Each Department

November 28, 2022
Cayley Wetzig, Head of Marketing Communications

In today’s business world, cybersecurity risks are everywhere. From accounting to marketing, no department is immune from these threats. To protect your business, it’s essential to understand the risks posed by each department.

This guide looks at the cybersecurity risks in each department to help you better protect your business from the ever-growing threat of cyberattacks.

C-Suites

C-suite executives have access to sensitive company information and can make decisions that affect the entire organization. This makes them a high-value target for attackers. They can become targets of cyberattacks because they’re likely to use their personal devices to access sensitive company data, especially when working away from their offices.

Data shows that while over 90% of organizations allow the use of personal devices for work, most BYOD strategies are unregulated. A recent survey shows that 49% of businesses do not have security measures to secure BYOD programs even when connected to a corporate network. This leaves C-suite executives who use their devices vulnerable to different cyberattacks.

Additionally, with stats like these:

40% of business executives are worried about getting hacked.
84% of C-level executives say they had been targeted by at least one cyberattack in the past year, with phishing attacks again being the most common (54%).
78% of IT leaders say the C-Suite is the most likely to be targeted by phishing attacks.
76% of CEOs admit to bypassing security protocols to get something done faster, sacrificing security for speed.

It’s easy to see why C-Suites are prime targets.

Legal and Finance

The legal and finance departments are responsible for handling sensitive company information. This information includes customer data, contracts, employee records, and financial data. Attackers target these departments because they know this information is valuable and can use it to exploit the company or its customers.

Data breaches targeting these departments are usually costly and can seriously impact the company’s reputation. According to a recent IBM report, the average cost of a data breach in the U.S. is $9.44 million.

Since these departments handle sensitive information, they need strong cybersecurity measures to protect this data.

IT and Security

This department is responsible for keeping the company’s digital infrastructure and networks safe. They manage the network, develop security policies, and implement security solutions.

If this department misses a security vulnerability, cybercriminals can exploit it to access the company’s network. Such vulnerabilities in the IT department were the leading cause of a cyberattack on Facebook in 2021.

Human Resources

The human resources department is responsible for managing employee data. This data includes personal information, such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and bank account information. This data is valuable to attackers because they can use it to commit identity theft or fraud.

Additionally, with ERP systems online, like Workday, Oracle, SAP, Gusto and others, it’s easy for threat actors to target HR professionals, especially because many in HR do not get specialized training.

Last, there has been recent people impersonating others with “DeepFakes” and trying to interview. With the recent Covid hiring remotely, this can also be something to look out for.

The Bottom Line

While we have mentioned only a few departments, it’s essential to realize that every department in a company is at risk of cyberattacks. Factors like inadequate cybersecurity training, poor cybersecurity culture, and vulnerabilities related to ex-employees can increase the risks for all departments.

A study by OneLogin shows that 13% of former employees can still use their old credentials to access their employers’ systems.

To protect your business, you should have a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. This strategy should include measures to safeguard all departments in your enterprise from different cyberattacks.

Final Note

ThriveDX is ready to provide your enterprise members with the security training they need to prevent cyber attacks in every department. Our training content is custom-fit, so you can be sure that your team is learning something that will suit your organization. Learn more about our cybersecurity services and solutions and how they can help protect all areas of your organization.

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