In today’s article, we’ll discuss the dangers of unauthorized access attempts and how to detect them early to prevent data loss and information breaches within a company.
We’ll explain how to identify early signs of intrusion, which tools you can use to monitor your infrastructure, and what practices to implement to prevent unauthorized access from causing harm.
Let’s start at the beginning.
An unauthorized access attempt occurs when someone tries to enter a system, network, or application without having the proper permissions. These attempts may be carried out by cybercriminals seeking valuable data, automated bots scanning thousands of vulnerable systems, former employees, or malicious insiders.
The most common methods include brute force attacks, phishing, exploiting system vulnerabilities, and social engineering techniques.
When an intruder gains access to a company’s systems or information without permission, it can lead to serious consequences such as the theft of confidential information (personal data, financial records, intellectual property, etc.), operational disruptions (like the blocking or manipulation of critical services), and loss of customer trust, especially if third-party data is compromised. It can also lead to regulatory fines and penalties for non-compliance with laws like the GDPR.
Early detection is the first line of defense in preventing an intrusion from escalating.
Detecting these attempts before they turn into major incidents requires awareness of the most common warning signs:
If you notice an unusually high volume of traffic, especially from unusual geographic locations or multiple unknown IPs, it could indicate scanning activity or an automated attack.
This is often a clear sign of a brute force attack. If the attempts come from the same user or IP address at regular intervals, action should be taken immediately.
Logins at odd hours, sudden location changes (e.g., logging in from Spain and then China within minutes), or requests to access sensitive files without a clear reason should trigger alerts.
Alterations to firewall rules, unauthorized creation of users with elevated permissions, or changes to critical files could indicate a compromised system.
Prevention begins with visibility. Here are some tools and strategies we recommend implementing:
An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) or IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) analyzes traffic and system behavior for abnormal patterns.
For example, WWatcher is a cybersecurity tool specifically designed to prevent data theft and mass downloads of internal files, protecting a company’s sensitive information from unauthorized third parties.
WWatcher integrates with the company's workplace platform (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, etc.) and allows you to limit the volume of files an employee can download per day based on their role and activity. The goal is to prevent unauthorized users, such as those who have stolen credentials, from downloading large amounts of confidential internal data and triggering a data breach.
A SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platform allows you to collect and correlate logs from multiple systems: servers, databases, firewalls, etc.
Platforms like Petam.io help identify behavioral patterns, automate alerts, and carry out detailed audits.
Using artificial intelligence or machine learning, you can establish normal behavior profiles for users and systems. When behavior deviates, such as a user accessing from a foreign country or making unusual requests, an alert is triggered.
This is especially useful for detecting insider threats or access using stolen credentials.
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring more than one proof of identity (e.g., password + SMS code). Even if a password is stolen, the attacker won’t be able to access the system without the second factor.
In addition to technological tools, implementing strong security policies is essential:
Detecting unauthorized access attempts in time is a critical and increasingly complex task, but it’s not impossible. With the right tools, a proactive strategy, and a company culture focused on security, you can stay ahead of attackers and protect your most valuable information.
At WWatcher, we help companies like yours implement early threat detection solutions, real-time monitoring, and forensic analysis to prevent unauthorized access and minimize risk.
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