How to Prevent It? 6 Unauthorized Access Countermeasures Companies Should Take!
Date: 2022.03.17.
- 2022.03.17. How to Prevent It? 6 Unauthorized Access Countermeasures Companies Should Take!
CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) systems, online meetings, and other tools have made networks widely used in business.
However, while the internet makes it easy to handle information, unauthorized access can occur if management is not thorough. It is important to understand the risks of unauthorized access and take countermeasures.
This article introduces unauthorized access countermeasures and key points that companies should implement.
Table of Contents
- Unauthorized Access
- Risks of Unauthorized Access
- Examples of Unauthorized Access Damage
- 6 Unauthorized Access Countermeasures Companies Should Take
- Internal Countermeasures
- External Countermeasures
- Summary
1. What is Unauthorized Access?
Unauthorized access refers to the act of someone without access rights obtaining authorization, such as IDs and passwords, through improper means and intruding into or using devices or internal networks.
Unauthorized access can trigger disruptions to internal networks and information leaks, significantly impacting business operations.
1-1. Risks of Unauthorized Access
Secondary damage from unauthorized access can take many forms. Here are some corporate risks caused by unauthorized access.
■ Information Leakage
The first risk of unauthorized access is information leakage. If unauthorized access is gained to a company’s PC, etc. from the outside, information may be stolen or leaked.
The information held by companies includes customers’ personal information and confidential information. If information is leaked, the damage to the company, such as suspension of transactions with customers, a decline in corporate image, and a drop in stock prices, is immeasurable.
■ Data Tampering
Data tampering is a secondary damage caused by unauthorized access. A company’s information is rewritten, giving customers and users false information, which can lead to a decline in corporate image.
In some cases, login information such as IDs and passwords is also tampered with, preventing administrators and users from accessing internal systems and databases.
If such data tampering occurs, the company will have no choice but to suspend operations, which can lead to a drop in productivity and significant damage.
■ Virus Infection
Unauthorized access can also cause virus infections. Viruses spread and infect other PCs, servers, and internal networks.
If infected with a virus, data may be destroyed, or email accounts may be hijacked, spreading damage such as sending spam emails to customers.
1-2. Examples of Unauthorized Access Damage
Here are some examples of actual damage caused by unauthorized access.
Example 1: Leakage of Personal Information
On February 28, 2022, Ryukyu University announced that unauthorized access to its web server had occurred, potentially leaking information of 287 graduates and faculty members. The data included information such as names, phone numbers, student ID numbers and grades at the time, and report contents.
Example 2: Sending Spam Emails
On March 9, 2022, Creative Machine Co., Ltd. revealed that spam emails may have been sent due to unauthorized access impersonation.
This was caused by the leakage of password information from email accounts.
The company is calling attention to emails from affected accounts.
2. 6 Unauthorized Access Countermeasures Companies Should Take
The potential for unauthorized access risks is everywhere. It is important to anticipate unauthorized access patterns and take countermeasures based on them.
Here, we will explain them separately into “internal countermeasures” in preparation for unauthorized access caused by human factors, and “external countermeasures” in preparation for intrusions from the outside.
2-1. Internal Countermeasures
■ Management of IDs and Passwords
The leakage of authentication information (ID and password) is a possible cause of unauthorized access. It is necessary to be aware of the following points and thoroughly manage them so that they are not stolen by third parties.
- Do not set simple passwords (*birthdays, short, only numbers or letters, etc.)
- Do not reuse passwords for multiple systems
- Change passwords regularly
- Set up a two-step authentication function
- Make sure that memos containing authentication information are not stolen by third parties
- Do not leave your seat with the monitor screen on
- Restrict and manage the terminals that can be used by the company (*allow only authorized in-house PCs to access the network)
■ Management of In-House Mobile Devices
In addition to IDs and passwords, it is also necessary to be careful about the management of in-house mobile devices. With the recent spread of remote work, the number of opportunities to take devices such as PCs and smartphones outside the company has increased.
Be careful not to have your mobile device stolen, and be prepared to take immediate action by the administrator in the event of loss.
The following checkpoints should be kept in mind when managing in-house mobile devices.
- Be sure to obtain permission from the administrator before taking out a mobile device
- Do not record or memorize IDs and passwords on mobile devices
- Incorporate remote wiping (remotely erase information on the device)
- Incorporate remote lock (prevent login from a remote location)
■ Implementation of Training and OJT
Loss of passwords and mobile devices is often due to human factors. The security awareness of each employee is very important in order to reduce risks.
Establish training and OJT on security measures and encourage employees to raise their security awareness in their daily work.
■ Log Management
Logs refer to the data history of computers and systems, and by properly managing logs, it is possible to prevent leakage of personal information and confidential information. It becomes clear when, who, and what kind of operation was performed, so even if unauthorized access is discovered, it is easy to immediately investigate the cause and respond.
In addition, by performing log management, it is possible to check the company’s situation and grasp “whether employees are performing their duties properly” and “whether they are performing unauthorized actions.” Log management also plays a role in internal control within the company.
2-2. External Countermeasures
■ Introduction of Security Software
The most important external countermeasure against unauthorized access is the introduction and regular updating of security software.
When introducing security software, be sure to check the size of your company and the track record of the software provider before considering it.
Also, do not forget to regularly update the software. The methods of malware and other viruses are becoming more sophisticated every year. If you do not update and leave it as an old version, the vulnerability of the system may be exploited and you may be intruded.
Always check for software updates and try to keep it up to date. There is also software that notifies you of updates by email, which will be one criterion when introducing security software.
■ Introduction of EPP/EDR
EDR is a security measure specifically for endpoints. An endpoint refers to a terminal (PC, tablet, etc.) that accesses the company’s network from a remote location.
In addition, with the recent spread of remote work in companies, the number of employees working outside the company, such as at home or in cafes, has increased. Previously, information was held and managed on the company’s network, but management may not be thorough due to work outside the company.
It is necessary to strengthen the security of not only the company’s network but also the security of the terminal (endpoint) on the remote side.
EPP (Endpoint Protection Platform) has a function to detect and eliminate threats from outside that intrude into the endpoint. It is possible to prevent intrusions of threats into the network that cannot be dealt with by conventional firewalls and IDS/IPS detection systems alone.
EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) has a function to monitor, detect, and isolate the inside of the endpoint. While EPP is aimed at preventing malware infection, EDR is a security measure aimed at suppressing damage after virus infection.
In the case of EPP, there were concerns that the discovery and initial response to cyber attacks would be delayed with regard to dealing with unknown malware, which could lead to the spread of damage. As soon as EDR detects a virus, it immediately takes measures such as blocking access, minimizing the spread of the virus and the theft of internal information.
“EXO Security” provided by our company is a tool specializing in endpoint security.
It has a function to detect new types of malware and a function to block access to malicious sites, and can deal with various security threats during remote work.
It is easy to operate and you can try it for free now. If you are considering security measures for remote work, please try it.
Summary
This article introduced the risks of unauthorized access and its countermeasures. The threat of unauthorized access exists everywhere around us.
If unauthorized access occurs, it can lead to enormous damage to the company, such as information leakage and data tampering. Companies need to thoroughly consider unauthorized access countermeasures.
In addition to basic initiatives such as strengthening security-related departments and management systems, it is becoming increasingly important for each employee in the company to have security awareness and thoroughly carry out their daily work.
We hope you will find this article helpful in preparing for future unauthorized access countermeasures.
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