How to Protect Company Data Using CleverControl

Last year saw an alarming increase in data breaches. There were 72% more breaches in 2023 compared to the previous all-time record in 2021, and the situation is not improving. 95% of leakages pursue financial purposes, and each costs $4.88 million on average. What is more disturbing is that it takes about 194 days to reveal a data leak and about 64 days to contain a breach!

These alarming figures emphasize the importance of cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes. What can organizations do to mitigate the risks? Implementing strong security measures, such as data encryption, access controls, and endpoint protection, and using employee monitoring software CleverControl helps prevent data leaks.

According to Verizon, 83% of data breaches are caused by internal actors, in other words, employees who, intentionally or not, compromise confidential company information. Employees are the backbone of any business, but sometimes they can betray the employer's trust and knowingly leak corporate data for revenge, personal gain, or other motives. They may deliberately copy and transfer sensitive data to unauthorized resources to sell it to competitors for personal gain later. The most elaborate ways of data theft are espionage - when the employee steals trade secrets or intellectual property for the benefit of competitors - and sabotage - when the employee intentionally damages or deletes company data.

It is difficult to pinpoint precisely how frequent and detrimental intentional data leakages are due to underreporting and the complex nature of such incidents. Still, they pose immense risks and dire consequences for organizations, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities.

Even if the employee does not pursue malicious purposes, they can put company data at risk without realizing it. Here is how it can happen:

• Mishandling passwords: Using weak, easily guessable passwords or reusing credentials for several accounts makes cracking them significantly easier for the attacker. Sharing passwords with colleagues is a dangerous practice as well - an unauthorized employee or a potential insider can get access to data they are not allowed to view.

• Failing to perform system and app updates: Timely updates grant enhanced protection against the latest cyber threats, which is why keeping the work device updated is vital.

• Neglecting security policies: Ignoring recommendations of the company's security department, such as backing up data or system updates, leaves the systems vulnerable to attacks.

• Accidental data sharing: Sharing screen may accidentally reveal confidential information to unauthorized participants. Employees may also accidentally reveal crucial data by sending work emails to the wrong address due to autocomplete mistakes or misclicking the contact list. Finally, sharing files with loose security settings allows potential attackers and unauthorized staff to access the confidential data.

• Phishing attacks: The goal of phishing is to deceive a person into downloading malware or revealing sensitive information. Attackers often pretend to be a credible person or organization and use text messages, emails, social media, or other communication channels in their work. Clicking on malicious links or downloading attachments from suspicious emails on a work computer can compromise the organization's system and data.

• Using personal devices for work:  The personal device may already be infected by malware or may not be as protected as the company-owned one. That is why using it for work can compromise confidential company data.

Monitoring employee activity is crucial for company data protection, as it allows tracking employee activity on their computers, timely detection of data breaches, and providing the necessary evidence in internal investigations.

CleverControl is a comprehensive employee monitoring and productivity program that can track almost all activity on the work computer, providing an additional layer to the company's security. The system offers real-time and recording features that can be used to detect and prevent data leaks.

CleverControl's real-time monitoring features include Live Viewing and Live Webcam. Live Viewing - streaming of an employee's screen in real time - allows supervisors to identify and address potential security threats immediately. If the target computer has a webcam, CleverControl can turn it into a basic security system. You can connect to it anytime to see what is happening in the office and who is operating the monitored device. This practice will be precious for devices that store confidential information.

CleverControl not only streams webcam video but also records it and can take snapshots. With these features, you can watch recordings for any period of the day, reveal potential unauthorized access, and get evidence for internal investigations.

CleverControl offers an advanced access monitoring feature - Face Recognition. The program takes snapshots of everyone who accesses the tracked computer, identifies the person, and makes a photo report for the day or any selected period. Thanks to these reports, you will always know who uses the computer containing confidential information and identify unauthorized users.

One of the frequent security problems is untimely program updates and unauthorized or pirated software that employees install on their work devices. CleverControl collects a list of all installed applications and their versions, making it easy to ensure the employee uses only the latest versions of authorized software.

You can control the risks of phishing and data leaks via emails and text messages with CleverControl's tracking social media features. CleverControl can be configured to take screenshots of chats by timer or when the employee hits "Send", capturing the message contents and allowing to check it for potential leaks. The program also records all text copied to the clipboard, so if the employee copies confidential info, you will notice immediately.

CleverControl tracks not only activity on the computer but external devices as well. It captures the names of all connected devices and the date and time of their connection. CleverControl also tracks printer tasks and takes a screenshot when the employee sends the document to print. So, if an employee prints a document they are not supposed to print, you will notice immediately.

Although CleverControl cannot track file operations directly, it can be configured to record the employee's screen throughout the workday. This way, you can learn not only what the employee does during work hours but also what files they access, print, copy, or send via email or other communication channels.

Such in-depth monitoring ensures employees follow data handling policies, such as not copying sensitive data to personal devices or sharing it with unauthorized individuals. This can reduce the risk of accidental or intentional data leaks.

Finally, monitoring by itself acts as a deterrent. Knowing their activity is tracked can deter employees from engaging in risky behavior.

CleverControl offers a comprehensive feature kit that monitors employee productivity, helps prevent data leaks, and strengthens company data protection. The program records all employee activity, allowing managers to review it for potential security policy violations and providing evidence in investigating these cases. However, it is vital to remember that monitoring must be used ethically to make the most of the program without ruining employee trust.