Preventing Account Takeovers: What Every Business Needs to Know

Cybercriminals are more sophisticated, and the damage they can do—stealing sensitive information, disrupting business operations, and compromising customer trust—is immense.

What Are Account Takeovers?

Account takeovers occur when a cybercriminal gains unauthorized access to an online account—whether it’s an email account, cloud platform, or financial system—and uses it for malicious purposes. They typically gain access through tactics like phishing attacks, credential stuffing, or exploiting weak passwords.

Once inside, the attacker can steal data, initiate fraudulent transactions, or further penetrate your systems, leading to a wide range of problems, from financial loss to reputational damage.

Why Traditional Methods Are No Longer Enough

While traditional methods of account security like passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) are still important, they’re no longer sufficient on their own. Cybercriminals have found ways to bypass these defenses, using tactics like SIM swapping to intercept MFA codes or relying on human error in phishing scams.

In fact, 77% of organizations experienced a successful ATO attack in the last year, despite having basic protections in place. This proves that to stay ahead of cyber threats, businesses need to adopt more advanced, proactive security strategies.

A New Approach: Zero Trust and Adaptive Authentication

The next evolution in preventing account takeovers lies in two key technologies: Zero Trust Architecture and Adaptive Authentication.

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is built on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” This means that no one, whether inside or outside your network, is trusted by default. Access is only granted after a rigorous verification process, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

With Adaptive Authentication, access controls adapt to the user’s behavior, device, and location. Instead of relying on static credentials like passwords, this technology evaluates the risk of each login attempt in real time. For example, if a user who typically logs in from one location suddenly tries to log in from another country, the system flags it as suspicious and adds another layer of verification before granting access.

This dynamic approach makes it much harder for cybercriminals to take over accounts—even if they have the correct credentials—because their behavior will deviate from the norm.

How to Implement These Solutions in Your Business

Preventing account takeovers starts with a layered defense strategy. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Adopt Zero Trust Principles: Begin by segmenting your network and limiting access to only those who need it. This prevents lateral movement in the case of a breach.

2. Leverage Adaptive Authentication: Invest in tools that monitor login behavior, flag suspicious activity, and enforce dynamic access controls. The key is ensuring that your security protocols evolve with user behavior.

3. Educate Employees: Account takeovers often start with phishing attacks or social engineering, which means employee training is essential. Make sure your team understands the importance of strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and reporting suspicious activity.

4. Partner with Experts: Implementing Zero Trust and Adaptive Authentication solutions can be complex, and the stakes are too high for trial and error. Working with cybersecurity experts ensures that your defenses are properly configured, integrated, and maintained for maximum effectiveness.

Ready to Protect Your Accounts?

Account takeovers are evolving, but so are the ways to prevent them. Businesses can no longer rely solely on basic security methods—they need advanced solutions that adapt to today’s threats.