Your cybersecurity strategy is missing one key element: human behavior.
It’s essential to know what your employees are doing because a small percentage of them may be doing actions that can put their systems at risk, knowingly or not.
Behavioral analytics in cybersecurity goes beyond traditional technological methods to protect systems by monitoring every behavior of employees when they use their computers, like what apps they use, how long they spend on them, and the place they connect from. Unusual activity flags up on the system so businesses can take fast action to reduce risks.
This article defines behavioral analytics in cybersecurity, reasons for human risk to be a top concern, benefits, and integration into third-party risk management.
What Is Behavioral Analytics in Cybersecurity?
Behavioral analytics is a radically different approach to cybersecurity because it doesn’t focus on tech but people. It involves studying how people normally use computers, apps, and systems and helps spot unusual actions that might mean something is wrong or unsafe.
Security teams use this information to figure out if someone might be doing something risky, even if they don’t mean to.
It works by watching what users do, like which files they open, when they log in, what they click, and where they connect from. The important bit for businesses trying to protect themselves is that when someone does something different from their usual pattern, the system notices.
Unlike simple activity tracking, which just records what happened, behavioral analytics looks at how often something happens, whether the timing is normal, and whether it fits the user’s past behavior.
Some tools use AI and machine learning to help with this. These tools learn what normal looks like for each person and alert the team when something stands out or looks like a possible threat.
Why Human Risk Is Now a Top Concern
So why should you invest in technologies to monitor the human risks to your systems? Simple. People are the ones who create risks, inside and outside of your company. Deliberately or in ignorance. If you ignore these threats, you’re opening yourself up to massive risks, fines, and reputational damage.
Tricks like phishing and social engineering are still big problems. These are ways bad people try to fool employees into giving away private information or clicking on dangerous links. When people use easy-to-guess passwords or the same password for everything, it makes it even easier for attackers.
Behavioral analytics can help by spotting when someone is doing things that don’t match their usual behavior. This way, problems can be caught before real damage happens.
As more people work from home or in different locations, it becomes even more important to understand how people behave while using company systems.
Benefits of Behavioral Analytics for Businesses
There are many benefits to using behavioral analytics in your business to reduce cybersecurity risks from the inside. The first benefit involves detecting odd behaviors instantly and responding to them to reduce threats fast, so security teams don’t have to wait to find out something went wrong. They can act quickly to stop problems before they grow.
It also builds risk profiles for each user. This means the system keeps track of how people usually behave and gives them a score based on how risky their actions seem. Users with higher scores get more attention, so the most serious risks are handled first.
The system can also change security rules depending on what’s happening. If someone is doing something that looks risky, they might be asked for extra proof to show they’re allowed to do it.
Compared to older systems that follow fixed rules, behavioral analytics makes fewer mistakes. It’s better at knowing when something is truly dangerous, so security teams don’t waste time on harmless activity.
Integrating Behavioral Analytics into Third-Party Risk Management
The next step you’ll want to consider is how to integrate your newfound knowledge of behavioral analytics into third-party risk management. The first step to achieving this is to accept and act on the fact that third-party vendors are a growing risk.
Third-party vendors are a growing risk
Companies often work with outside vendors who help with tasks like software, storage, or customer service. These third-party vendors sometimes need access to company systems, which can create risk if vendors are not careful with data or security rules. Third party risk management software helps businesses keep track of who these vendors are, what they have access to, and how safely they behave.
Behavioral analytics can monitor third-party access
Behavioral analytics doesn’t just watch employees—it also tracks vendors. It can see when a vendor does something unusual, like logging in at strange times or trying to reach areas they normally don’t use. This helps spot possible problems early.
Helps with audits and compliance
During audits or reviews, companies must show they manage vendor risks properly. Behavioral analytics gives useful information about how vendors behave. This helps prove that the business is being careful and following security laws and rules.
Conclusion
There is huge value in using behavioral analytics to enhance your cybersecurity posture. It takes into account much more than just technology, like traditional cybersecurity: It follows humans to ensure they don’t pose a risk. That’s the strength of this approach: It’s not about tech but a new approach to your cybersecurity strategy.
It’s essential to invest in technologies rather than track human actions, because it can save thousands in fines that can occur following breaches and cause reputational damage.
