In a nutshell: Employee data is predominantly compromised through negligent security practices rather than targeted attacks and often remains undetected for extended periods.
Many security breaches of employee data result not from targeted attacks, but from everyday behaviors: employees register for third-party tools using their business email addresses and store passwords unsecurely, creating significant risks for corporate infrastructure.
The origins of such compromises are often mundane: employees use their work email address to register for third-party tools, newsletters, event registrations, or software trials. This distributes corporate identity across numerous external services and potentially exposes it to the security standards of these providers.
Another risk arises from password reuse between personal and business accounts. Employees frequently store login credentials in browsers or unsecured password management tools, creating a direct access path for attackers who breach systems or execute successful phishing campaigns.
The central challenge for CISOs is that such data leaks often remain undetected for long periods. Without automation and continuous monitoring of employee identities from an external perspective, it remains unclear where sensitive corporate data resides and when it was compromised. To comply with NIS2 and other regulatory requirements, organizations need visibility over the scope and exposure of employee data. Organizations should implement control mechanisms that address both employee behavior and detect data leaks in a timely manner.
Source: itwelt.at · Published May 29, 2026
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