In the context of ISO 27001, which focuses on establishing and maintaining an effective Information Security Management System (ISMS), recognising potential threats and vulnerabilities is crucial. Here is a list of examples to get you started. Remember: not all threats and vulnerabilities will be applicable to all businesses. You'll need to identify those that make sense for your operations.
Cyber Threats
Phishing Attacks: Fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by pretending to be a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
Ransomware: Malware that locks or encrypts data, with the attacker demanding a ransom to restore access to the data.
Malware and Viruses: Software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Attacks intended to shut down a machine or network, making it inaccessible to its intended users.
SQL Injection: An attack involving insertion or "injection" of a SQL query via the input data from the client to the application.
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Where the attacker secretly intercepts and possibly alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other.
Physical Threats
Theft or Loss of Devices: Such as laptops, mobile devices, external hard drives, or flash drives containing sensitive information.
Unauthorised Access: Gaining physical access to buildings or rooms where sensitive information and systems are stored.
Environmental Hazards: Such as fire, flood, or other disasters that can physically damage data storage and processing facilities.
Human Factor Vulnerabilities
Insider Threats: Employees or contractors who might intentionally or unintentionally leak or compromise information.
Inadequate Training: Employees not properly trained on the importance of security policies and practices, which can lead to accidental breaches.
Poor Password Management: Use of weak, default, or reused passwords that can be easily compromised.
System and Software Vulnerabilities
Outdated Software: Running outdated software versions that may have known vulnerabilities which have not been patched.
Insecure APIs: Poorly designed application programming interfaces that could be exploited to gain unauthorised access to private data.
Configuration Errors: Misconfigurations of security settings in hardware or software that leave systems vulnerable to attacks.
Operational and Procedural Vulnerabilities
Lack of Data Backup and Recovery: Inadequate backup strategies that don't allow recovery of data post-breach or disaster.
Ineffective or Nonexistent Security Policies: Lack of clear and enforced policies regarding information security.
Poor Access Control: Inadequate controls that fail to restrict access to sensitive information based on user roles.
Compliance and Legal Vulnerabilities
Non-compliance with Regulatory Requirements: Failing to adhere to laws and regulations regarding data protection, such as GDPR for European customers or HIPAA in the healthcare sector in the USA.
Contractual Breaches: Not meeting security obligations outlined in contracts with clients or partners, potentially leading to legal actions.