Multi-Factor Authentication Vulnerabilities – MFA is crucial for safeguarding user accounts, but threat actors can still exploit weaknesses. Legacy authentication protocols, like IMAP/POP3, pose significant risks allowing attackers to bypass MFA. There is also the possibility of devices being compromised, if one or more of the devices needed for the MFA process become compromised this could potentially expose the authentication process to hackers and threats.

Businesses should continuously assess and update their cyber security measures with regular risk assessment, educate their users and employees about potential risks, and implement additional layers of cyber security defense.

Data Exfiltration: Identifying Risks and Implications – Data exfiltration, the unauthorized transfer of data, presents severe risks. To prevent this, organisations must detect suspicious behaviours, like file sharing with personal email addresses, mass downloading, or exceeding send limits. Investing in a managed service provider is crucial for comprehensive protection. 

Privilege Escalation – Grants attackers higher-level access than authorized. Methods include exploiting software vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, exploiting default accounts, or leveraging social engineering.

Phishing Attacks – A phishing attack is a type of cyber attack in which attackers use deception tactics to trick individuals into providing sensitive information, such as usernames or passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive personal details. There are multiple variations of ‘phishing’ attacks with the up and coming AI capabilities they are getting more deceptive and hard to differentiate from the real thing. Microsofts in-built capability to prevent Phishing is not enough. Whilst it does detect and address known phishing threats, it does not actively scan all aspects of emails and email content.