The Hidden IT Risks in Your Business, And How a Free Risk Assessment Can Help

The most dangerous threats to your organization are often the ones you cannot see. Anything from sneaky forgotten software to weak access controls can hang around for months before attackers take advantage of them.

By the time these issues manifest as a breach or downtime, the damage is already done. A free risk assessment lists vulnerabilities, highlights problems, and provides a roadmap to security. Here are the 6 most common hidden risks we uncover, and how an assessment helps you eliminate them.

1. Outdated or Unpatched Systems You Didn’t Know About

Cybercriminals often find easy access points in businesses through operating systems and applications that have been overlooked and haven't received updates in years. While you may ensure your primary servers are patched, an old computer sitting forgotten in a spare office essentially functions as an unlocked door. This is a common discovery during cybersecurity testing.

How a risk assessment helps:
Our assessment finds every connected device by scanning your entire network. We verify the patch status of all software, flagging outdated systems so they can be updated or replaced.

2. Weak Passwords and Poor Access Controls

Most employees would know not to use easy passwords like 1234567, PASSWORD, or admin, but when was the last time you double-checked that passwords weren't being reused? Weak, simple, or reused passwords remain one of the easiest ways for criminals to breach a network.

Without multi-factor authentication (MFA), a single compromised password is like giving a cybercriminal the keys to your business.

How a risk assessment helps:
Our cybersecurity testing reviews user accounts and permissions to ensure least-privilege access. The assessment identifies accounts lacking MFA and gauges the strength of your current password policies to be certain that they are up to industry standards.

3. Shadow IT: Unapproved Apps and Tools

In an effort to be productive, your employees may download unapproved tools. This might be a free PDF converter, a file-sharing app, or an unauthorized browser extension.

This "Shadow IT" creates blind spots that lurk in your IT team's peripheral vision. They cannot protect software they do not know exists.

How a risk assessment helps:
Thorough cybersecurity testing maps all applications in use across the organization. We flag unauthorized or risky tools that don't adhere to compliance standards.

4. Incomplete or Unreliable Backups

Many businesses feel secure knowing they have a data backup system. However, in our cybersecurity testing, we frequently discover that backups are outdated, untested, or silently failing. The crucial question is: Is your backup truly up-to-date, and when was the last time you actually tested it?

Furthermore, if your backups are not separate from your network, a ransomware attack can encrypt your backups alongside your live data.

How a risk assessment helps:
We analyze the health of your backup protocols. We verify retention policies, check restore readiness, and ensure your data protection strategy is ransomware-proof.

5. Misconfigured Firewalls, Wi-Fi, or Cloud Settings

Technology is complex, and mistakes are easy to make; one wrong checkbox can expose your entire environment. Leaving your firewall misconfigured exposes ports to the public internet, allowing anyone to access them.

Similarly, cloud settings in platforms like Microsoft 365 are often left on default, which is rarely the most secure option.

How a risk assessment helps:
We perform a deep analysis of your configurations in our cybersecurity testing. We discover any open ports and weak security rules before cybercriminals do. We ensure your infrastructure complies with cybersecurity best practices.

6. Lack of Employee Cyber Awareness

Employees are the number one target for phishing and social engineering attacks. An employee who lacks cyber awareness is as dangerous to your organization as a vulnerable system. A 2024 study found that 95% of data breaches were caused by human error, demonstrating the importance of cybersecurity testing.

Technology alone cannot stop a well-crafted email designed to trick a user into handing over credentials. If your team cannot spot a threat, your firewalls won't matter.

How a risk assessment helps:
We evaluate your organization's vulnerability to social engineering. The assessment analyzes user behavior patterns and identifies where security awareness training is most needed.

Secure Your Business Against Cyberthreats with Integrated Computer Services

Cybersecurity testing is the step no business can afford to ignore. It’s the final check of the doors before you leave your house to go on vacation. It’s the alarm that lets you know when something is wrong. Take the time to make sure your business is secure.

At Integrated Computer Services, we offer a complimentary multipoint cybersecurity testing to uncover unknown vulnerabilities before they become expensive disasters.

Schedule your free assessment today and secure your future.