You are probably already familiar with many of the threats information security teams face today. Even so, the landscape shifts fast enough that it is easy to miss something important. This checklist is meant to help you spot gaps in your current risk register and give you practical examples you can reuse in risk reviews or training preparation.
Finding new risks is not busywork. It is part of strengthening your defenses before the weakness turns into an incident.
1. Phishing
Phishing uses deceptive messages, usually email, to trick people into revealing sensitive information.
Trigger
These attacks typically rely on social engineering. The attacker uses urgency, trust, or authority to push someone into taking action. Messages often imitate banks, internal IT teams, or well-known online services.
Impact
The impact can include:
- compromised personal or corporate credentials
- unauthorized transactions or access to confidential systems
- material data breaches
Real-world phishing example
In 2020, Twitter suffered a major spear-phishing breach targeting employees. Attackers used phone calls, claimed to be from Twitter’s IT department, and convinced employees to hand over credentials. That access let them reach internal systems and high-profile user accounts, then run a cryptocurrency scam that generated more than $100,000 in fraudulent transactions. Read more
2. Ransomware attacks
Ransomware is malicious software that blocks access to data by encrypting it until a payment is made.
Trigger
Ransomware often starts with phishing emails containing malicious links or attachments. It can also spread through exposed remote desktop protocols or unpatched software vulnerabilities.
Impact
The consequences can be severe:
- operational disruption
- financial losses due to downtime
- potential loss or leakage of sensitive data
Paying a ransom does not guarantee recovery. In practice, companies may pay anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars depending on the situation.
Real-world ransomware example
In 2021, Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline operator in the United States, was hit by ransomware from the DarkSide group. The attack shut down roughly 5,500 miles of pipeline and disrupted fuel supply across the Eastern United States. The company paid 75 bitcoins, about $4.4 million at the time, to regain access to its systems.
3. Cloud security vulnerabilities
Cloud security vulnerabilities are weaknesses in cloud environments that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access, manipulate services, or steal data.
Trigger
Common causes include:
- misconfigured cloud storage
- weak access controls
- lack of encryption
- inadequate authentication
- insecure third-party integrations
Impact
Cloud weaknesses can lead to data breaches, service outages, and loss of customer trust. For cloud-dependent businesses, the financial and reputational damage can be significant.
Real-world cloud security example
In 2019, Capital One experienced a major breach tied to an AWS firewall configuration issue. A former employee exploited the weakness and accessed personal data belonging to more than 100 million customers, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and credit card application data. Read more
4. Personal mobile device security risks
Mobile security threats involve unauthorized access, data leakage, and malicious attacks aimed at smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
Trigger
Typical causes include:
- unsecured Wi-Fi usage
- lost or stolen devices
- phishing aimed at mobile users
- malicious apps
- weak device management and weak policy enforcement
Impact
Compromised mobile devices can expose sensitive data, introduce malware into corporate networks, and cause financial and reputational damage.
Hypothetical mobile security example
Imagine a multinational company where employees receive spear-phishing messages designed to look like internal communications. When users tap the link, malware is installed on their phones. The malware harvests credentials, bypasses two-factor authentication, and gives attackers access to business systems, contract details, and proprietary documents. Even without a public case attached to one exact scenario, this is a realistic path for serious mobile compromise.
5. Insider threats
Insider threats come from current or former employees, contractors, or business partners who misuse legitimate access, intentionally or accidentally.
Trigger
These incidents can stem from:
- disgruntled employees seeking retaliation
- staff mishandling data
- negligence
- insiders manipulated by external attackers
Impact
Because insiders already have access and context, they can bypass many traditional controls. The result can be data theft, fraud, intellectual property loss, or major business disruption.
Real-world insider threat example
In 2018, Tesla disclosed an incident where an employee changed code in the Tesla Manufacturing Operating System and exported sensitive internal data to outside parties. The employee’s actions reportedly followed a workplace grievance and created both operational and competitive risk for the company.
6. IoT security flaws
IoT security flaws are weaknesses in Internet of Things devices that attackers can use to gain access, manipulate device behavior, or launch attacks on other systems.
Trigger
The most common causes are:
- insecure default configurations
- default passwords
- unpatched firmware vulnerabilities
Impact
Weak IoT security can lead to privacy breaches, infrastructure damage, and large-scale network disruption. Compromised devices are often absorbed into botnets that are then used for DDoS attacks.
Real-world IoT security example
In 2016, the Mirai botnet infected large numbers of IoT devices such as routers and IP cameras by exploiting default passwords and poor security. Those devices were then used in massive DDoS attacks, including one against Dyn that disrupted services such as Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit. Read more about Mirai and the Dyn attacks.
7. Zero-day exploits
A zero-day exploit happens when attackers use an unknown software or hardware vulnerability before the vendor has issued a fix.
Trigger
The trigger is the existence of an undiscovered flaw and the gap between discovery by attackers and remediation by the vendor or internal team.
Impact
Zero-day attacks can cause:
- unauthorized access to sensitive data
- system compromise
- broad network disruption
Because defenders have no patch available at the start, these attacks can spread widely before they are contained.
Real-world zero-day example
In 2021, the Hafnium campaign targeted Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities. Attackers used those zero-days to access email, deploy malware, and establish persistence inside corporate networks. The campaign affected tens of thousands of organizations worldwide, including government and research entities.
8. Supply chain attacks
A supply chain attack compromises your organization through a partner, supplier, or software dependency instead of attacking you directly first.
Trigger
This usually happens because of weak vendor security practices or compromised software and hardware that your organization already trusts.
Impact
The damage can include:
- loss of sensitive information
- operational disruption
- financial loss
- reputational damage
Real-world supply chain example
The 2020 SolarWinds breach is one of the clearest examples. Attackers compromised the software development process and inserted malicious code into product updates, which were then distributed to around 18,000 customers, including major government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
9. AI-powered attacks
AI-powered attacks use machine learning and related techniques to make cyberattacks more convincing, scalable, and difficult to detect.
Trigger
Rapid progress in AI lets attackers generate realistic audio, video, text, and automation. That increases the effectiveness of impersonation, misinformation, and fraud.
Impact
These attacks can drive:
- misinformation and manipulation
- unauthorized access to systems or data
- political, social, and commercial disruption
Real-world AI-powered attack example
In 2021, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and other high-ranking officials were targeted in a deepfake scam involving the impersonation of African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki. The attackers used AI-generated video and audio to create a convincing fake counterpart for video calls, showing how AI-assisted impersonation can reach diplomatic and government targets. Read more
10. Regulatory compliance risk
Regulatory compliance risk covers the legal, financial, and operational consequences of failing to meet applicable laws, regulations, and standards.
Trigger
Compliance risk usually appears when:
- legal frameworks change
- teams misunderstand new obligations
- organizations fail to implement controls before deadlines
Impact
The consequences can include heavy fines, legal sanctions, operational restrictions, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust.
Real-world compliance examples
- Meta was fined EUR 1.2 billion by the Irish Data Protection Commission in 2023 for transferring EU personal data to the United States without adequate safeguards. Read more
- TikTok received a EUR 345 million fine over failures related to protecting underage users, especially around privacy settings and age verification. Read more
- Criteo was fined EUR 40 million by CNIL for failing to demonstrate valid user consent in behavioral advertising. Read more
These examples are a useful reminder that information security risk is broader than malware or direct compromise. Legal and regulatory failure can create damage on the same scale.