Lingering Access: How Ex-Employees Could Be Your Biggest Security Blind Spot
Hope You’re Having a Great Start to the Week!
This time, we’re focusing on a critical issue that can often fly under the radar—ex-employees retaining access to your company’s data. In a world where cybersecurity is becoming more complex by the day, it’s easy to get lost in the buzzwords and overlook the basics. Everyone nowadays is busy implementing advanced threat detection systems and multi-layered defenses, but they often miss the simple things—like making sure former team members no longer have access to critical data.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” In today’s digital world, that small leak might be someone who left months ago but still has access to your Slack channels, Google Drive, or project management tools. These aren’t just stories; they’re real risks that companies face daily.
This week, we’re shining a light on this often overlooked issue, showing how it can impact businesses like yours, why it’s so important to address, and how you can take steps to regain control. Let’s get into it!
Understanding the Problem: Ex-Employees and Data Access
The numbers speak for themselves: a report by Osterman Research found that a staggering 89% of ex-employees retain access to at least one application from their previous job, even after they leave. That’s almost 9 out of 10 former employees who can still log in and see what’s happening inside your company. And it’s not just small startups that face this challenge—large enterprises are equally at risk. A survey by CyberArk revealed that 49% of organizations had experienced data breaches due to a lack of proper offboarding processes.
Let’s explore how this issue can play out in real-life scenarios, and the potential risks that arise when ex-employees keep access to your SaaS tools.
Stories from the Shadows: How Ex-Employee Access Can Haunt You
Sales Data in the Wrong Hands:
Picture this: Emma, a sales manager, decides to move on after three years at your company. She joins a competitor a month later. Unbeknownst to your IT team, her login credentials for your CRM system still work. As a result, she can access detailed customer lists, ongoing sales strategies, and even notes on key clients. Without ever stepping foot back in your office, she’s able to give her new employer valuable insights into your business strategies. A single oversight could translate into lost deals and a significant competitive disadvantage.
The Unused Subscription That Keeps on Giving:
In another scenario, Jake, a project manager, left the company six months ago. He was a frequent user of your team’s Dropbox Business account, which holds important documents, from product development plans to future marketing strategies. Because no one thought to revoke his access, he still has complete access to your team’s Dropbox folders. As new projects are added and confidential files are updated, he remains a ghostly presence in your data storage. Even if he has no ill intentions, this creates a significant security risk—one that could have been easily prevented.
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Financial insights at risk:
In another scenario, Sarah, a former finance analyst, left the company a year ago. During her time, she used the company’s Google Workspace extensively, managing spreadsheets with sensitive financial data, including quarterly reports, budget forecasts, and vendor contracts. When she departed, her email account was deactivated, but no one thought to remove her from the shared finance folders. Now, as new financial strategies are being developed and budgets adjusted for the next fiscal year, Sarah still has access to these critical documents. Even without malicious intent, her lingering access is a potential security loophole that could have been easily closed.
How FrontierZero Can Help: Visibility Is Key
It’s easy to get caught up in the complexities of cybersecurity—advanced threat detection, encryption algorithms, and zero-trust models. But often, the most significant risks come from the basics, like knowing who still has access to your systems. That’s where FrontierZero comes in. With our tool, you can see which ex-employees or inactive accounts still have access to your critical SaaS applications.
Our platform provides visibility into popular tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and other frequently used business applications. These are the places where sensitive data often resides—client contracts, strategic documents, and financial records. By tracking access to these key apps, FrontierZero helps you quickly identify any potential risks from accounts that should have been deactivated.
Our platform continuously updates with new integrations to ensure you have visibility across a wide range of tools. Recently, we’ve added four more integrations, including ChatGPT, Ashby, Calendly, and Clockify, giving you even more control over your access points. If you’ve ever wondered, “Who still has access to our sensitive data?”—we can help you find the answer.
Conclusion: The Risks of Ex-Employee Access Are Real
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be all about the most complex solutions. Sometimes, it’s about getting back to the basics—knowing who has access to your systems. With so many companies unknowingly leaving ex-employees’ access active, it’s a risk that no organization can afford to ignore. The numbers don’t lie: data breaches and compliance issues often start with overlooked access points.
It’s time to shine a light on these hidden risks. Visibility is the first step toward stronger security, and it could be the difference between a secure organization and a vulnerable one.
Are you ready to take that first step?
-Mo and Karl