The 4 Types of Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities That Could Be Putting Your Business Data at Risk

January 21, 2025
Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

In today’s digital era, the world faces numerous challenges in cybersecurity. Businesses and individual users are constantly exposed to various threats. Companies (Centric is no exception) invest heavily in protecting their data. Yet, so many become easy targets for attackers as they need to learn about the weak points of their systems or applications. Cybercriminals have reached new heights of success, especially by exposing those weak points within the systems, processes, and human behavior that lead to mass fiscal and reputational loss.

Identifying vulnerabilities and addressing blind spots in a company’s IT environment is essential for security. You can only protect your systems if you are aware of what exists and have a clear understanding of the actual status of your environment. In this blog post, we will discuss the process, operating system, network, and human cybersecurity gaps that may jeopardize your data.


Process Vulnerabilities: Weaknesses in Procedures That Open the Door to Cyber Threats


What Are Process Vulnerabilities?

Process or procedural vulnerabilities are generated by the inability or deficiency in implementation and the inability of protocols to keep updating in due course. Even the most advanced cybersecurity tools can become easily compromised by ill-practice or outdated procedures. The vulnerability could be related to data handling, system updates, access control policies, or incident response plans.

Common Examples of Process Vulnerabilities

The most common procedural vulnerability is inconsistent patch management. This means that if specific software or systems are not updated regularly, they will retain known security flaws. A vulnerability scanning solution can help address this issue and provide a quality check for your IT environment. Additionally, having a formal incident response plan is crucial. With such a plan, an organization can respond promptly to security breaches, minimizing downtime and further data loss.

Why Process Vulnerabilities Matter

Even relatively minor procedural security breaches can be costly. In 2024, the global average cost of a data breach reached 4.73 million EUR. Many of these could have been avoided with better procedural oversight. Companies can prevent potential gaps by constantly refining security processes and maintaining or working toward compliance with generally accepted standards so that no attacker can leverage those gaps.

Fixing process vulnerabilities demands continued dedication to watchfulness and improvement. To enhance procedural defenses, regular audits, staff training, and real-time process monitoring will be required. At Centric, we are serious about providing secure services to our customers. To make this as efficient as possible, we have dedicated teams for audits, procedures, vulnerability management, and real-time monitoring.


Operating System Vulnerabilities: Gaps in OS Security That Leave You Exposed


Understanding Operating System Vulnerabilities

Operating system vulnerabilities are security weaknesses in computers, servers, or mobile device software. Each operating system may have different vulnerabilities, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Since the operating system controls many functions, it is often a popular target for cybercriminals; thus, it is still a significant gateway to sensitive data and systems.

Fundamental Causes of OS Vulnerabilities

Outdated software is a leading cause of system vulnerability to OS attacks. As long as systems are not periodically patched or updated, hackers can take advantage of known weaknesses in the code. This is often compounded by improper system configuration. System default settings can create vulnerabilities if they are not reconfigured with security in mind. This is why we need to take this issue seriously. We should strengthen our system security by collaborating with security specialists and using tools that can simplify the process for engineers in some instances.

Notable OS Vulnerability Attacks

Operating system vulnerabilities have caused some of the most severe cyberattacks. For example, the notorious WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 spread through unpatched Windows systems and infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. Indeed, this attack was a huge wake-up call on how updating operating systems matters so much because of its widespread impact.

Preventing OS Vulnerabilities

Operating system vulnerabilities can be prevented by regularly updating and patching systems. However, many users hesitate to install patches as soon as they are released, uncertain about potential issues they may cause. Thorough testing is essential before applying any patches. At Centric, we develop our applications for customers, which requires us to verify compatibility each time a patch is considered. The only exception is when a vendor provides a patch specifically for its product, such as an update for a firewall operating system; in this case, the patch can be installed without prior testing.

At Centric, we have developed a process to track news about newly released patches for vulnerabilities in the products used company-wide. When a patch for a vulnerability is released, or a zero-day vulnerability is announced, we create an advisory published through our internal communication channels. If the severity of the vulnerability is high enough, we convene a meeting with representatives from various teams to discuss what actions can be taken to initiate emergency patching. Additionally, these advisories serve as notifications for technical teams and provide valuable information for our security coordinators, who work with our customers.

Leaving OS vulnerabilities unattended may have looming consequences. However, a proactive attitude or any attack that might paralyze their activities can minimize these consequences.



What Are Network Vulnerabilities?

Network vulnerabilities are the various weaknesses in systems that govern how devices, applications, and users communicate. Any gap in network security—whether through wired or wireless connections—can lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or malware infection.

Types of Network Vulnerabilities

Several common network vulnerabilities exist, including data transmission without encryption, weak or default passwords of network devices, and firewalls with wrong configuration. The most vulnerable are wireless networks, implemented using an outdated form of encryption known as WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy, whose cracking poses little problem for attackers.

Impact of Network Vulnerabilities on Business

Network vulnerabilities pose a greater risk because they allow cybercriminals to access an organization’s internal systems directly. For instance, the 2020 SolarWinds breach that ravaged several government and corporate agencies was caused by a weakness in the network. Attackers manipulate software related to network management to access sensitive information unauthorizedly for an extended period of time.

Strengthening Network Security

Strengthening network security will help significantly reduce vulnerabilities. Robust encryption protocols, such as WPA3, should be implemented for wireless networks. Organizations should use multi-factor authentication to access any information within the network. This is one of the least effort-requiring but most benefit-providing measures to increase security these days. At Centric, our specialists continuously monitor and secure networks, ensuring all vulnerabilities are quickly addressed and providing our clients with robust protection.


Human Vulnerabilities: The Unseen Risks in Employee Actions


The Role of Human Error in Cybersecurity

Even with the best hard-core technical defenses in place, humans remain one of the most significant vulnerabilities toward which any cybersecurity strategy can be directed. Human vulnerabilities involve issues related to employee mistakes, being deceived by phishing schemes, or unintentionally exposing sensitive information. This vulnerability is serious because such attacks leverage trust and manipulate trust between people.

Common Forms of Human Vulnerabilities

Yet, one of the still most prevalent types of cyberattacks targets human weaknesses: phishing. Phishing is sending e-mails or website links that mislead individuals into revealing sensitive information such as log-on credentials or credit card information. More classically, weak passwords or using the same password across accounts have been human mistakes that expose systems to unauthorized access.

The Insider Threat

Human vulnerabilities manifest in the form of insider threats, too. Some disgruntled employees or contractors might knowingly use their privileges to exploit sensitive data. Insider threats can be destructive, whether by accident or intentional attack. High-profile cases where company employees leaked information regarding a company’s proprietary assets have proven this.

How to Minimize Human Vulnerabilities

Therefore, organizations should invest in regular training and cybersecurity awareness to reduce human vulnerabilities. Here, at Centric, we conduct regular staff training and cybersecurity drills, ensuring our employees and clients’ teams remain vigilant against human-targeted attacks. Limiting access to data sensitive to only those whose roles require them, with strict access control, also minimizes insider threats.

It’s always easier to trick a person than to hack an adequately patched and configured system. However, with proper education and controls, the risks can be manageable. Centric helps organizations mitigate human vulnerabilities by implementing comprehensive access controls and customized security awareness programs for all employees.


Fortifying Your Defenses Against Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities


In the somewhat intricate world of cybersecurity, knowing the type of vulnerabilities your data needs protection from is crucial. The good news is that adopting proactive security measures will help businesses address those vulnerabilities head-on and significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks.

Keep in mind that cybersecurity is a process, not an activity. The best defense against these constantly changing threats is more awareness, investments in new security technologies, and a culture of vigilance in employees. Make your cybersecurity strong and shield your organization against constant dangers in cyberspace.

Picture of Aivaras Klisauskas
Aivaras Klisauskas

Security Engineer

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