---
title: 7 Network Vulnerability Risks to Watch Out For
description: Worried about a network vulnerability? Safeguard your system with these essential insights. Read more to protect your network!
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---
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Today’s business landscape is fast-paced, and staying ahead requires more than just adopting the latest networking technology; it also demands a vigilant approach to network vulnerability. Cloud computing, hybrid work environments, and remote access have revolutionized productivity and flexibility. However, they also introduce potential network vulnerabilities compromising your organization’s security.
Addressing these vulnerabilities is crucial to safeguarding your business while fully capitalizing on technological advancements. Expanding your network without bolstering your security protocols could have devastating consequences. Read on to learn about the biggest network vulnerability problems your company could face.
## 1: Having Weak Passwords
Some of the most successful data breaches didn’t require sophisticated hacking techniques. Something as simple as having a weak password can be a massive network vulnerability. Most people know that a strong password should combine letters, numbers, and symbols, but there’s more to it than that.
Even the most nonsensical string of special characters can be a weak password in the wrong circumstances. Just look at the 2012 Dropbox data breach. According to Tom’s Hardware, this breach exposed the usernames and passwords of over [68 million Dropbox users](https://www.tomshardware.com/news/68-million-dropbox-passwords-leaked,32610.html).
Since people tend to use the same password across multiple platforms, criminals have used the leaked Dropbox credentials to access all kinds of sensitive accounts. Protect your organization by making it a company policy to create unique passwords for work accounts.
## 2: Letting People Use Their Own Devices
Almost everyone these days owns a personal laptop. Purchasing computers for your staff doesn’t come cheap, and users tend to prefer their own systems, so it’s tempting to allow workers to use their own devices.
But the risks outweigh the rewards. By letting people bring their own devices, you’ll have way less control of your network security.
You simply don’t know what your employees are using their laptops for in their personal time. Employees might expose their computer to malware by:
- Connecting their laptop to unsecured Wi-Fi networks
- Downloading pirated material containing malicious files
- Not having antivirus software installed
Additionally, employees could use cloud storage services like OneDrive or Dropbox. These apps automatically back up files in the background, which is great for personal use. But, on a professional network, these backup solutions could cause severe [data compliance breaches](https://empist.com/the-importance-of-national-compliance-management-services-for-corporate-it-security/).
Providing your employees with hardware is the only way to maintain adequate control over your network security.
## 3: Unpatched Software
Some people think software updates are just for getting useful new features. In reality, they’re also a crucial part of network security. Running outdated systems has caused some of the most devastating data breaches in history.
For example, according to Acronis, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) suffered a [devastating ransomware attack](https://www.acronis.com/en-gb/blog/posts/nhs-cyber-attack/). The NHS was so vulnerable to the WannaCry virus because it used an older version of Windows XP with a critical security flaw.
While Microsoft had already issued a security patch, the NHS left many systems unpatched because the upgrades were complex and inconvenient. The attack was so devastating that many patient appointments had to be canceled.
Cybercriminals search for companies with vulnerable, unpatched software, making diligent updates crucial to network security.
## 4: Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks
Wi-Fi is a fantastic innovation that enables flexible work environments and simplifies the network installation process. Instead of being chained to a desk by a network cable, your employees can work from anywhere in the building.
The downside is that wireless networks are much less secure. A cybercriminal can potentially sit outside your office with a laptop and intercept confidential data as it passes through your company network. The risk is much greater if you’re not using a Wi-Fi password.
While most companies are savvy enough to set a password, they might not realize that older encryption protocols like WEP are almost as bad as no protection at all. To lock down your network, you must use up-to-date networking hardware with the latest encryption methods.
Of course, even the most [robust Wi-Fi security](https://empist.com/cybersecurity-best-practices-for-threat-detection-and-response/) is inherently less secure than a hardline connection. Sometimes, the inconvenience of a physical cable is worth it to shut down a potential attack route.
## 5: Lack of Network Segmentation
A network breach shouldn’t enable an attacker to access all of your company data. The most effective security policies aim to prevent unauthorized access and limit what cybercriminals can do if they manage to get inside your network.
You probably don’t have many employees who need to access everything on the network. Most only need specific files to do their job. By identifying employee needs and controlling access accordingly, you minimize the harm of a data breach.
You could achieve this by restricting the permissions of individual user accounts, but the most effective method is network segmentation. Keeping your most sensitive data on a separate network makes it much harder for criminals to gain access.
## 6: Lack of Employee Training
According to Microsoft, humans are almost always [the weakest link](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/security-compliance-and-identity/the-weakest-link-in-your-security-people/m-p/75298) in your security policy. Outsmarting antivirus software or bypassing firewalls is difficult, but tricking humans is relatively easy. By exploiting flaws in human reasoning, cybercriminals can trick your employees into compromising their own network.
Often, these social engineering attacks are so effective the victim doesn’t even realize what happened. For example, a criminal could impersonate your company CEO and trick a worker into giving up their password. Typically, they’ll fabricate some time-sensitive emergency that doesn’t allow the victim to stop and think about what they’re doing.
The only way to protect against social engineering is through consistent employee training. Educate your staff on recognizing the signs of phishing or social engineering attacks and refresh their knowledge as frequently as possible. Social engineers use tried-and-tested scams that have been used to trick people for centuries, so the only way to safeguard your organization is through constant vigilance.
## Address Network Vulnerability in Your Business
Your business must keep pace, primarily if your competitors always use state-of-the-art technology. However, network vulnerability is a very real issue; if you don’t address it, your company can be at risk.
By addressing the problems in this article, you can ensure your sensitive data is safe from cybercriminals. And this is entirely possible with expert IT solutions.
Would you like to hear more? Then [contact EMPIST today](https://empist.com/contact/). We’re an award-winning company with almost 25 years of experience.
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