Internal and External Cybersecurity Struggles

The unfortunate truth is that, even with a solution like managed IT services in place, there's no way to "win" at cybersecurity. Instead, you'll always be learning new things and making small changes to keep up with an ever-shifting threat landscape.

One thing that doesn't change is the fact that cybersecurity issues can come from both inside and outside your company. Knowing the difference is key to responding effectively--so here's a breakdown of each threat type:

Internal

Internal cybersecurity threats are often well-meaning, accidental, and the result of simple human error. They generally revolve around employees who misunderstand their responsibility in the company's overall cybersecurity approach.

A common example of an internal threat is an employee clicking on a link in a phishing email. This can lead to the installation of malware, which is a cybersecurity threat itself. In this way, the employee has unknowingly opened the door to trouble.

Although most internal threats are innocent, some come from a place of malicious intent. As such, it's important to protect against both purposeful and accidental risks--because no matter how much you trust your teams, everyone can occasionally make a mistake.

External

External cybersecurity threats originate outside your business. They're what most people think of when discussing cybersecurity overall and often include things like hacking, spyware, data theft, and more. Unlike internal threats, these issues are rarely accidental and instead are masterminded by individuals who know what they want and are clever in how they attempt to get it.

In general, your more aggressive cybersecurity solutions should be directed outward. That's because internal threats often originate in human error, but external threats are always shifting and changing--which means you can't afford to become complacent.

Conclusion

Although a solid cybersecurity approach provides solutions for both internal and external threats, it's important to know the difference between the two, so you can respond appropriately. Perhaps most critically, you must understand that the nature of cybersecurity is to shift constantly--so you need to be capable of doing the same.

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