Based on the research, here are the answers to your questions about the consequences of security breaches, employee best practices, and professional conduct on company intranets.

Consequences of Outsiders Gaining Access

When unauthorized individuals gain access to a company’s intranet, the consequences can be severe and far-reaching, impacting the company financially, legally, and in terms of its reputation. Some of the most significant consequences include:

• Financial Loss: This can occur from theft of intellectual property, proprietary information, and customer data. Companies may also incur significant costs from a data breach, including recovery efforts, fines, legal fees, and loss of business.
• Reputational Damage: A security breach can severely erode customer and partner trust. When a company’s inability to protect sensitive data becomes public, it can lead to a loss of brand equity and a significant drop in business.
• Legal and Regulatory Penalties: Many industries are subject to strict data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A breach can result in substantial fines and legal action for non-compliance.
• Operational Disruption: Hackers may not only steal data but also corrupt, destroy, or encrypt it in a ransomware attack. This can bring business operations to a halt, causing downtime, loss of productivity, and significant recovery challenges.

Steps Employees Can Take to Protect Intranet Data

Employees are often the first line of defense against security breaches. They can take several proactive steps to protect a company’s intranet data and proprietary information:

• Practice Strong Password Hygiene: Employees should use strong, unique passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be used whenever possible.