How Cybercriminals Exploit the Gaps Between IT and Security Teams

Applications exchange data, users move between networks, and devices connect across multiple environments. Such interactions power productivity but also create countless small points where oversight can fade. In the absence of unified attention, those points form quiet entryways that cybercriminals exploit to their advantage.

IT and security often operate within the same landscape but follow separate objectives. Technical teams maintain systems and keep them running, while security teams oversee protection and policy. When those priorities move independently, unintentional space forms between them. Within this space, attackers find room to act. Determining how gaps appear and how they are used helps organizations strengthen the framework that holds their systems together.

Weak Domain Authentication Paths

Domain authentication defines how systems recognize and trust one another. It is a foundation of digital identity, and any flaw within it can open the way for unauthorized access. Misconfigured controllers, weak encryption, or unchecked communication channels between domains make authentication paths susceptible to misuse.

This weakness became especially clear during the Zerologon vulnerability, which exposed how a single protocol flaw in domain controllers could allow attackers to assume control over critical systems. Events like this emphasize how essential it is to treat authentication as a shared responsibility. Routine audits, patch synchronization, and expert collaboration maintain the integrity of these pathways and preserve confidence across connected environments.

Unmonitored Privileged Accounts

Administrative credentials carry authority that extends across entire networks. When these accounts are left unmonitored, they provide unseen openings that attackers can quietly exploit. Privileged access needs continuous visibility, with every action recorded and verified.

Establishing a structured inventory of privileged users and aligning it with automated monitoring tools keeps oversight steady. Scheduled reviews help confirm that all active accounts serve legitimate purposes and that no dormant credentials remain open.

Default Credentials Left Active

Default credentials exist in nearly every system. Routers, applications, and devices often launch with standard logins that are meant to be temporary. When credentials remain active, they become ready-made entry points. Attackers rely on this oversight, scanning for known default combinations to gain entry without needing to bypass stronger defenses.

Replacing or disabling default credentials as part of initial setup removes this exposure. A simple procedural update within IT deployment plans can ensure every new asset joins the network securely.

Incomplete Network Segmentation

Segmentation organizes network traffic by purpose, sensitivity, and operational need. It separates administrative systems from general use, user data from development environments, and internal communication from external access. If segmentation is incomplete, movement between these spaces becomes unregulated.

Mapping data flow and creating clear zone boundaries keeps access organized and easier to oversee. Defined segments allow teams to manage permissions with precision and respond quickly to any unusual behavior.

Gaps in Directory Service Hardening

Directory services manage authentication, permissions, and user identity across networks. They serve as the central reference for who can reach what, and under which conditions. Without routine hardening, directories can accumulate settings that weaken this control, unrestricted groups, unnecessary privileges, or outdated encryption protocols.

Effective hardening begins with steady configuration reviews, limited administrative rights, and secure communication between connected servers. Documented baselines help both IT and security teams stay aligned on directory management.

Infrequent Access Reviews

Access permissions evolve naturally over time. Employees take on new responsibilities, projects shift, and temporary credentials remain active long after their purpose ends. Without structured review cycles, the list of authorized users gradually expands, and oversight begins to fade.

Establishing a regular review schedule keeps access balanced and relevant. Teams can validate roles, remove unnecessary accounts, and confirm that each user retains only what is needed. A well-documented review process adds discipline to account management and maintains clarity across all systems.

Inconsistent Logging and Alerting

Logging is one of the most valuable forms of visibility within a network. Each log entry captures a snapshot of system behavior, who accessed what, when it happened, and how the environment responded. When logging standards vary between systems, the organization loses its ability to track events as a continuous story. Disconnected monitoring leaves empty spaces that attackers often use to move unnoticed.

Consistency across all logging and alerting systems builds a unified record of activity. Aligning event thresholds, retention policies, and alert priorities helps both IT and security teams interpret data without confusion. Centralized log management tools bring information into one environment, where patterns can be studied and anomalies identified quickly.

Overly Broad Permissions Across Systems

Permissions define what users and applications can do inside a system. When those permissions are assigned too broadly, they expand the reach of any single account far beyond its intended scope. As such, this can create invisible corridors that link unrelated parts of the network. Attackers frequently exploit these pathways to access systems that would otherwise remain restricted.

Keeping permissions focused requires careful documentation and routine maintenance. Each account should align directly with a defined role or function. Regular reviews of group memberships, API access, and service-level authorizations help maintain clarity.

Unverified Remote Access Tools

Remote connectivity supports productivity, especially across distributed teams and hybrid work environments. However, remote access platforms vary widely in quality and oversight. When employees or contractors use tools outside approved channels, these connections introduce uncertainty. Attackers often mimic or hijack such tools, using them to reach internal networks without triggering alarms.

Organizations benefit from maintaining an accurate inventory of all remote access software. Verification ensures that every tool follows the same encryption and authentication standards. Routine testing and certification of these platforms confirm that each connection point meets internal policy.

Third-Party Vendor Access Blindspots

Vendors frequently require direct access to systems for updates, maintenance, or integration support. When that access remains active beyond its original purpose, it becomes an unattended entryway. Many breaches begin through a third-party connection that was left open or poorly monitored.

Creating a clear framework for vendor access ensures accountability. Each connection should have an expiration date, defined permissions, and detailed documentation of what systems it touches. Activity logs tied to vendor credentials make tracking straightforward and verifiable.

Weak Multi-Factor Authentication Rollouts

Multi-factor authentication enhances security, confirming identity through multiple steps instead of a single password. Yet when the rollout of this protection is incomplete, some systems remain under single-factor conditions. Attackers focus on such unprotected areas to gain initial entry before expanding further into the network.

Comprehensive implementation plans help prevent these oversights. Every critical application, endpoint, and cloud platform should follow the same authentication standard. Training employees on how multi-factor systems function encourages consistent adoption.

Every gap between IT and security represents a potential access point. When alignment becomes a shared priority, those gaps begin to close. Collaboration turns policies into practices and creates systems that operate with awareness on every level. When teams operate with the same visibility, discipline, and purpose, the network becomes a structure of trust built deliberately, layer by layer.