Here’s a critical question for every business leader: Do you know exactly who in your organization has access to your most sensitive data right now?
And more importantly—do they actually need that access to perform their job?
Many assume that access permissions are properly configured during onboarding and remain secure over time. However, recent research reveals a concerning trend: nearly half of employees have access to significantly more data than necessary.
This presents a serious risk—not only from potential malicious intent but also from inadvertent errors. When individuals can view data beyond their scope, it increases the likelihood of accidental disclosures, compliance violations, and audit complications.
This is known as insider risk—the threat posed by individuals within your organization, including employees, contractors, and others with system access. While some incidents are intentional, the majority stem from unintentional actions: clicking the wrong link, misdirecting sensitive information, or retaining access after departure.
One of the most common contributors to insider risk is privilege creep—a gradual accumulation of access rights as employees change roles, join new projects, or are added to systems without proper oversight.
Alarmingly, only a small fraction of organizations actively manage access rights. Even more concerning, nearly half admit that former employees retain system access months after leaving. That’s akin to handing over the keys to your office and forgetting to ask for them back.
The solution lies in adopting a least privilege approach—ensuring individuals have access only to the data and systems essential for their roles. This includes implementing just-in-time access, where permissions are granted temporarily and revoked promptly when no longer needed.
Equally important is the immediate deactivation of access upon employee departure.
In today’s landscape of cloud applications, AI tools, and “shadow IT,” managing access is more complex—but not impossible. It requires a proactive strategy: regular audits, permission reviews, and automation tools to streamline access control.
The goal isn’t to hinder productivity—it’s to safeguard your data, protect your customers, and preserve your organization’s reputation.
If you're unsure about the strength of your access controls, now is the time to act. Reach out for a comprehensive review. It’s far better to identify vulnerabilities today than to respond to a breach tomorrow.
