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The Ultimate Guide to Intranet Security
It takes second sto invade a companie’s system and days or even monthts to ecover
In less than 60 seconds, an employee can click a phishing link, enter their data, and compromise your entire system. Is your company intranet secure enough to handle the fallout?
And it’s not just phishing. Zero-day vulnerabilities, ransomware, and accidental errors are lurking out there, just waiting to pounce on poorly protected intranets.
But with the right practices, your intranet doesn’t have to feel like a ticking time bomb. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common cybersecurity threats and share best practices to keep your internal systems safe.
Intranet security means protecting your internal website and resources from unauthorized access, data breaches, and disruptions. It ensures sensitive information stays safe, operations run smoothly, and employees trust the systems they use daily.
The numbers don’t lie: Ransomware and extortion breaches now make up a third of all data breaches, and internal errors or threats play a role in 68% of cases. Without strong intranet security, your company’s most valuable data is at risk.
Securing your intranet starts with recognizing the internal and external threats that put your system at risk. By understanding these challenges and leveraging the right intranet tools, you can stay one step ahead of potential breaches.
Let’s break down the most common threats you need to guard against:
Human Error: A staggering 28% of breaches involve mistakes, from misdirected emails to misconfigured systems. A single accidental click on a phishing link or a misconfigured access setting can expose your entire system to vulnerabilities. Mistakes happen, but they can have massive consequences.
Privilege Misuse: Employees with access to data they don’t need can accidentally (or intentionally) misuse it. This is one of the most common causes of insider breaches.
Weak Passwords: 81% of hacking-related breaches stem from stolen or weak passwords. It’s 2025, but “password123” still makes its way into logins far too often, making brute-force attacks a breeze for hackers.
Phishing Attacks: 32% of breaches involve phishing, with a median time of less than 60 seconds for employees to fall for malicious links. When data entry happens almost instantly, your intranet’s defenses must be airtight.
Ransomware and Extortion: Ransomware has become a major player, targeting businesses across industries. Attackers lock your data and demand payment to release it—sometimes combining it with extortion tactics for added pressure.
Zero-Day Vulnerabilities: These hidden software flaws are exploited by attackers before they can be patched. The rise in these exploits means companies must stay vigilant and proactive.
Recognizing these threats is the first step to securing your intranet. The next? Implementing best practices that keep your internal systems resilient and prepared for anything.
Once you understand the risks, it’s time to take action. Implementing robust security measures ensures your intranet remains a fortress against both internal mishaps and external attacks. Here’s how to safeguard your internal systems:
Weak passwords are a hacker’s dream—easy to guess, easier to exploit. Require employees to use strong, unique passwords, ideally a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters. But don’t stop there. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an essential layer of protection.
With MFA, even if a password is compromised, unauthorized access remains highly unlikely.
Not every employee needs access to all data or tools. Implement the principle of least privilege (PoLP) to ensure employees only access the resources necessary for their roles. For example, marketing staff don’t need to access HR’s payroll files, and interns shouldn’t have admin-level access to the intranet.
Regularly review and update permissions to reflect role changes, terminations, or shifting responsibilities. Consider role-based access control (RBAC) for scalable management in large teams.
Outdated software is one of the easiest entry points for cyberattacks. Ensure your intranet platform, plugins, and connected tools are updated regularly to patch known vulnerabilities.
Where possible, enable automated updates to reduce reliance on manual intervention. For larger systems, schedule downtime for patching and ensure thorough testing to avoid compatibility issues.
Your employees are your first line of defense—and sometimes your weakest link. Provide regular training sessions to teach them:
How to recognize phishing emails and suspicious links.
The importance of strong passwords and MFA.
Best practices for handling sensitive data.
Encourage a culture of reporting unusual activity without fear of blame—it’s better to report a false alarm than ignore a real threat.
Stay informed about what’s happening on your intranet. Use activity logs and monitoring tools to detect unusual behavior, such as large file downloads, repeated failed logins, or access to restricted areas. Regular audits ensure your security measures stay effective over time.
Ransomware is scary, but it loses its sting when you have clean, up-to-date backups. Schedule regular, automated backups and store them in secure, offsite locations, whether offline or in separate cloud environments.
Test your backups periodically to ensure they work when needed. A backup is only as good as its ability to restore data in a crisis.
Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted or stolen, it’s meaningless without the decryption key. This applies to:
Data at rest: Information stored on your intranet or in databases.
Data in transit: Information traveling between users, servers, or devices.
Modern intranet tools often include encryption by default, but make sure it’s properly configured and covers all sensitive data.
Don’t wait for a breach to test your defenses. Conduct regular penetration testing and vulnerability scans to identify and fix potential weaknesses in your intranet.
Your intranet software plays a critical role in protecting your internal systems. A secure platform offers robust out-of-the-box security features and adapts to your organization’s needs. One of the most famous internal communication platforms is Confluence.
Confluence is Atlassian’s collaboration powerhouse, enabling teams to centralize documentation, share knowledge, and streamline workflows. But even a strong platform like Confluence can benefit from the right enhancements. That’s where Mantra Intranet steps in, transforming Confluence into a secure and vibrant company hub.
Data Residency: Most of your data stays securely within your Confluence environment, with minimal metadata stored externally on encrypted, GDPR-compliant servers.
Role-Based Access Controls: Mantra lets you restrict workspace and menu visibility to specific teams or roles.
Advanced Permissions Management: Assign super-users to manage content and navigation without granting full admin rights.
Encryption and Compliance: Mantra adheres to Atlassian’s highest security standards, giving you peace of mind.
Secure People Directory: Enable team connections safely with optional directory features that keep personal data private.
Do you want to know more about Mantra’s security? Read more details in the Mantra documentation.
By prioritizing security, you protect your valuable data and empower your team to work efficiently and confidently. With robust security measures and tools like Mantra, you can create a secure and collaborative environment where your team can thrive.
Ready to strengthen your intranet? Start building a secure, resilient intranet today.
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