Credentials are the root cause of half of the attacks observed in Verizon's 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report DBIR and are the primary source of web-based attacks. And the trend has accelerated the use of stolen credentials has increased by about 30 increased as more companies moved their resources from on-premises data centers to the cloud. [1] Once malicious users enter a network they have a free hand so stealing credentials is often the tip of the iceberg for cybercriminals.
The increasingly blurred boundaries between corporate networks and the outside world have made traditional protections such as firewalls less effective against hackers. One defense against these identity-based attacks is to prevent credential theft. Advanced email security tools can stop phishing attacks and other tactics used by Whatsapp Mobile Number List malicious actors to steal credentials and prevent them from using them to wreak havoc within a network. However countering identity-based attacks is a battle on many fronts. Many security professionals take a zero-trust approach which involves verifying users at access points throughout the network.
However a malicious actor who has valid credentials can bypass a simple password check. Because of this Identity and Access Management IAM ensuring that users on your network are who they say they are and are only accessing what they are authorized to do is evolving into a fundamental security feature. According to a 2023 Cyber Risk Alliance survey IAM is a top concern for security and IT professionals - ahead of fighting ransomware and managing software vulnerabilities.