<p>You might have seen <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-03-28-gartner-unveils-top-8-cybersecurity-predictions-for-2023-2024">this shocking prediction from Gartner</a>: <em>by 2027, 75% of employees will acquire, modify or create technology outside IT's visibility &ndash; up
from 41% in 2022.</em></p>
<p>Last year, LastPass launched the beginning of our evolution beyond password management to a secure access solution. Now, we've sharpened our focus to deliver
what lean teams truly need to operate securely.</p>
<p>We know that these teams only want the essentials when it comes to protecting their teams and their business. While other security tools present expensive,
cumbersome solutions built for orgs with dedicated security teams and large budgets, LastPass Secure Access Essentials is built for you.</p>
<p>It's <em>the</em> solution for resource-strapped IT organizations and businesses who don't have the budget, time, or technical resources to deploy those complex
tools.</p>
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<h2>The Modern Access Challenge</h2>
<p>Your employees rely on more SaaS tools than ever, and not all of them are on your radar.<br />
From cloud apps and browser extensions to AI tools, today's workplaces move fast. And when anyone can implement a new app with little more than a credit card and
a dream, you can be sure that very few of them are thinking about secure access or credential management. Consider this:</p>
<ul>
    <li><strong>Risk is rising</strong>: <a href="https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/artifacts/state-of-saas-security-report-2025">CSA reports</a> 55% of organizations say employees adopt SaaS tools without Security's involvement, and 56% report sensitive data being
    uploaded to unauthorized apps &mdash; blind spots that lead to real security incidents.</li>
    <li><strong>Productivity is slipping</strong>: <a href="https://deepstrike.io/blog/password-statistics-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Up to 50%</a> of IT help desk tickets are for password resets, and employees spend roughly 11 hours per year dealing with access
    issues instead of doing their jobs.</li>
    <li><strong>Costs are compounding</strong>: The average company now uses <a href="https://deepstrike.io/blog/password-statistics-2025">~106 SaaS applications</a>, each adding overhead &mdash; and every password reset can cost around $70 in support
    time.</li>
</ul>
<p>Single sign-on (SSO) can help with your core apps &mdash; the ones that you know about &mdash; but it doesn't cover everything, especially those smaller, hidden apps. And
for small and mid-sized businesses, controlling those can get expensive and time-consuming, fast.</p>
<p>That's where the security gaps start. Without a simple, customizable way to manage access, secure credentials, and monitor app usage, it's easy to lose
control. And that opens the door to risk from old accounts that still have access to sensitive info, to apps no one remembers signing up for.</p>
<p>It's no longer enough to secure passwords alone. Businesses need an approach to secure access management that's as flexible, efficient, and user-friendly as
the tools their employees actually use.</p>
<h2>What is Secure Access Essentials?</h2>
<p>Secure Access Essentials is the LastPass answer to the growing access management crisis, delivering core capabilities that work together to secure your
organization. These capabilities scale across the LastPass product, so you can start where you are and expand as your security needs grow.</p>
<p>With Secure Access Essentials, you can:</p>
<ul>
    <li><strong>Discover SaaS and AI tools</strong>: Gain visibility into which apps and AI tools your team is using, including unseen or unapproved apps. Spot risks early and
    maintain control across your SaaS landscape.</li>
    <li><strong>Control Access for Everyone</strong>: Ensure the right people have access to the right apps, systems, and data based on your policies. Easy to configure and adjust
    as your business evolves.</li>
    <li><strong>Simplify Secure Access</strong>: Securely manage how your team stores and uses passwords, with support for passkeys for faster and safer authentication.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Why does Secure Access Essentials matter?</h2>
<p>Enterprise solutions require dedicated IT teams, months of deployment, and ongoing maintenance that lean teams simply can't sustain. The cost and complexity
put security out of reach when you need it most.</p>
<p>And the stakes are high. <a href="https://deepstrike.io/blog/data-breach-statistics-2025">The average cost of a data breach</a> is $4.4 million, which can devastate small businesses. Unapproved tools lead to wasted spend and
duplicate or unused applications, while compliance violations can result in fines that put a serious dent in already constrained budgets.</p>
<p>LastPass brings together the essentials that cut complexity, strengthen protection, and make secure access effortless. Our capabilities are:</p>
<ul>
    <li><strong>Easy to manage, easier on your budget</strong>: Manage all access from a single place and skip the cost and chaos of multiple systems.</li>
    <li><strong>Designed for stronger protection with fewer roadblocks</strong>: Get strong, straightforward security that keeps your business safe and makes compliance
    easier.</li>
    <li><strong>Simple for your team + build stronger habits</strong>: When security fits naturally into the day, people actually follow it &mdash; reducing risk and boosting
    productivity.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Building on a Strong Foundation</h2>
<p>Password management is the foundation of LastPass, and it remains essential to secure access. But as security challenges mount, those challenges demand more.
That's why we've evolved beyond credentials to deliver the visibility and control modern businesses need.</p>
<p>Now organizations can also use LastPass to uncover risky SaaS and AI tools and enforce safe‑usage policies with SaaS Monitoring and SaaS Protect. And this is
just the beginning.</p>
<p>As secure access challenges expand, so will we, delivering the essentials you need to protect your business at every stage of your journey. Thanks for coming
along with us so far, and we're excited to build the future together.</p>
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Beyond Password Management: Secure Access Essentials from LastPass

LastPass Secure Access Essentials gives resource-strapped IT teams the tools to discover SaaS apps, control access, and simplify security without the complexity.

Introducing Secure Access Essentials: Beyond Passwords to the New Reality of Work

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Shadow AI & SaaS Security Risks: Close the Gaps in 2026

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Shadow AI widens security gaps by creating unmanaged access paths, with credentials, integrations, and agent connections that persist without clear ownership or centralized control.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Shadow AI increases risk faster than traditional Shadow IT because it embeds access directly into everyday workflows, where credentials are created and reused outside IT visibility.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Most Shadow AI risk&nbsp;doesn&rsquo;t&nbsp;come from new exploits but from identity misuse: weak authentication, missing MFA, reused credentials, and overlooked access points.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Policies and periodic audits&nbsp;can&rsquo;t&nbsp;keep up with Shadow AI; effective SaaS risk management in 2026 requires continuous discovery paired with&nbsp;real‑time&nbsp;access visibility. </li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">LastPass&nbsp;Business Max&nbsp;surfaces Shadow AI and SaaS usage at the point of login, helping lean IT teams&nbsp;identify&nbsp;and reduce unmanaged access before it becomes an incident.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key takeaways: Shadow IT revealed your gaps. Shadow AI widens them unless you do this in 2026 

FAQs: Shadow IT revealed your gaps. Shadow AI widens them unless you do this in 2026 

Shadow AI widens the gaps Shadow IT left behind. Learn how continuous SaaS discovery and access control help lean IT teams manage Shadow AI risk in 2026.     

Inside the shadows: The new SaaS security risks of Shadow AI in 2026 

<p>A lot of ink has been spilled on AI threats over the last few years and with good reason. AI is undoubtedly changing the cyber threat landscape in ways positive and negative. <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing">Anthropic&rsquo;s announcement of Project Glasswing</a> this week is a great example of a positive way (for now) AI is helping keep organizations more secure as major companies like Google, Apple, Anthropic, and NVIDIA band together to use Claude Mythos<sup>2</sup> to scan for vulnerabilities across critical software in a responsible manner. Are there concerns this capability can and will be replicated by less responsible organizations and malicious threat actors to identify and exploit vulnerabilities before they are patched? Absolutely, but we&rsquo;ll get to that another day. For now, let&rsquo;s focus on the topic of AI threats and how to frame them in a way that is manageable, particularly for small and midsized businesses that may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of threat reporting out there. This post will be the first in a series on how to think about AI threats that will help organizations frame these issues in a way that will allow them to parse out what&rsquo;s noise and what needs action and what can be done about it. </p>
<p>For this first piece, let&rsquo;s focus on breaking down &ldquo;AI threats&rdquo; into two subdivisions&hellip;threats TO AI, which we will address in future posts, and threats FROM AI, which is what the majority of current cybersecurity media reporting is currently focused on. These threats generally fall into a few major categories; examples of these include: </p>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
    <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Phishing</span>: &ldquo;AI-enabled phishing&rdquo; served as the bow wave of AI threats. This started largely as phishing campaigns using AI to draft higher quality emails, devoid of the typical spelling and grammar mistakes that served as the hallmark of spam for decades, before evolving to include AI-driven reconnaissance and spearphishing that enabled the creation of more targeted messages and campaigns at a larger scale. This has now progressed to the creation of whole phishing kits enabled by AI, including writing the code for interstitial (referral) pages, security research detection and obfuscation measures, and the creation of custom phishing pages. The LastPass Threat Intelligence team assesses we have seen this last phase of activity in phishing campaigns targeting our own customers, in fact. </li>
    <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Malware Development</span>: The use of AI to improve and even develop new and custom malware has been a long-standing concern and one that has borne out over the last few years. Threat actors are either developing unique and malicious large-language models (LLMs) to help them with this or finding ways to jailbreak legitimate models to assist in the creation and/or improvement of malware. Reports from major AI companies <a href="https://www-cdn.anthropic.com/b2a76c6f6992465c09a6f2fce282f6c0cea8c200.pdf">such as Anthropic</a> confirm these efforts and again, our own analysis has uncovered indicators of AI involvement in the creation of custom phishing kits which, while not malware per se, demonstrate the use of AI to create code with malicious intent.</li>
    <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Deep Fakes and Disinformation</span>: This category refers to the use of AI to generate deliberately misleading written, audio, or video material. The use of deep fakes has long been a concern but is becoming more of a reality in cyber attacks targeting organizations, most notable in recent campaign by North Korea in which nation-state cyber threat actors leverage deep fakes of whole teams to arrange virtual meetings with individuals generally with goal of compromised their machine and/or network to enable further attacks targeting credentials, tokens, and/or cryptocurrency. The recent supply chain attack <a href="https://github.com/axios/axios/issues/10636#issuecomment-4180237789">targeting the Axios software on npm</a> is a great example of this. </li>
    <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Increased Speed and Scale of Operations</span>: Just as many people are, cyber threat actors are using AI (particularly agentic AI) to automate their operations, allowing them to plan and execute their attacks at unprecedented speed and scales. A <a href="https://assets.anthropic.com/m/ec212e6566a0d47/original/Disrupting-the-first-reported-AI-orchestrated-cyber-espionage-campaign.pdf">separate Anthropic report from last November</a> detailed an extensive cyberespionage campaign linked to Chinese nation-state threat actor that was orchestrated by AI and since then, there are increasing indications these approaches are being leveraged by a broader range of threat actors. </li>
    <li><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Lowered Technological Barrier of Entry</span>: &ldquo;Vibe coding&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t just for people looking to create their killer app&hellip; cyber threat actors are doing it, too. The derisive terms &ldquo;script kiddies&rdquo; or &ldquo;skiddos&rdquo; have been around in cybersecurity forever, referring to individuals using simple techniques or scripts to attempt to conduct cyber attacks&hellip; for a long time, this was largely a nuisance issue, particularly for well-defended organizations. Now, however, AI is allowing &ldquo;n00bs&rdquo; to pose legitimate threats as they are able use AI tools to create and launch various attacks, similar to what we discussed above. When these &ldquo;&rsquo;bad vibe&rsquo; coding&rdquo; attacks are combined with the larger &ldquo;evil-as-a-service&rdquo; cybercrime ecosystem (ransomware-as-a-service, phishing-as-a-service, etc.), these relatively unsophisticated threat actors become serious concerns that can punch well above their weight. </li>
</ul>
<p>This list is by no means exhaustive but it does demonstrate the threats organizations are facing FROM AI&hellip; in other words, those threats that are enabled by AI. The good news is that while these threats generate a lot of reporting, for the most part, existing controls when well-implemented can mitigate much of the threat from these. Remember, the TYPES of attacks associated with the points above aren&rsquo;t fundamentally different from what existed previously, it is HOW they are creating and conducting them that is largely changing. I would argue the largest shift on this front right now is the last bullet point: the threat environment is growing because just about anyone with a computer and a bad attitude can now jump into the cybercrime ecosystem, which means there are MORE attacks to worry about. But again, passwords, MFA, passkeys, patching, and other basic cyber hygiene measures can address most of these concerns. </p>
<p>Stay tuned as we move on in this series&hellip; next up, we will start to dig into threat TO AI, starting with a look at why the use of AI by organization creates a unique threat model and how to frame these threats in a way that can help you address them in an organized and methodical manner. </p>

Thinking About Cyber Threats in the Age of AI

This blog post focuses on the topic of AI threats and how to frame them in a way that is manageable, particularly for small and midsized businesses that may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of threat reporting out there. This post will be the first in a series on how to think about AI threats that will help organizations frame these issues in a way that will allow them to parse out what’s noise and what needs action and what can be done about it. 

“Well, We Had a Good Run”: Thinking About Cyber Threats in the Age of AI

Your Survival Guide to Infosecurity Europe, ExCeL London June 2-4, 2026: The Event Attackers Wish You’d Skip

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Infosecurity&nbsp;Europe&nbsp;will be held in&nbsp;ExCeL&nbsp;London, from June 2-4, 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Don't&nbsp;wait: Registration for&nbsp;Infosecurity&nbsp;Europe&nbsp;is free up to May 4th, 2026, for all passes except SANS Institute Workshops. On May 5<sup>th</sup>,&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;pay &pound;49+VAT.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">This year&rsquo;s hottest topics will focus on agentic AI, emerging ransomware tactics, the post quantum threat, and the shrinking gap between misconfiguration and exploitation.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Yes! LastPass, a leading global Secure Access provider, will be at&nbsp;Infosecurity&nbsp;Europe&nbsp;2026. Scroll down to see how to win&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;swag and bag a 1:1 meet with a LastPass executive. </li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">All work and no play makes for a dull day. See the FAQ section for the best dining options and the London attractions you&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;want to miss.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key takeaways: Infosecurity Europe

FAQs: Infosecurity Europe 2026

Everything you need to know about Infosecurity Europe 2026 — dates, passes, top sessions, networking events, and what's waiting at the LastPass booth (D104).

Non‑Human Identities Are a Growing AI Security Risk — Here’s Why

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Non-human identities increase security risks by introducing&nbsp;persistent access paths, as their credentials rarely expire, rotate, or map to accountable owners.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">You&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;need a dedicated security team to make&nbsp;progress.The&nbsp;fastest risk reduction comes from knowing where access exists, assigning ownership, and enforcing repeatable credential hygiene.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Unapproved AI and SaaS app usage&nbsp;is&nbsp;the primary multiplier of NHI risk.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Ownership is the most&nbsp;effective&nbsp;missing control. Non‑human identities may not&nbsp;map to&nbsp;employees, but they should still have accountable human owners to prevent orphaned access.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Centralizing shared credentials and applying basic access policies is the first step in effective credential rotation.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">LastPass can help govern the access behaviors, SaaS usage, and credential practices attackers exploit to reach machine environments.</li>
</ul>

   Key takeaways: non-human identities — the security risk that’s flying under your radar

FAQs: Non-human identities: The security risk that’s flying under your radar

 Non-human identities are multiplying faster than teams can manage. Learn what NHIs are, why they're a growing risk, and how to reduce your exposure.

<p>A great onboarding experience sets new hires up for success from day one, helping team members understand their role, build relationships with their
teammates, and start contributing faster. And when the process is smooth and well-organized, it reflects positively on your company culture before your hew
hires even finished their first week.</p>
<p>The best onboarding programs include structured schedules, clear expectations, mentorship, and secure ways to share access to the tools new hires need. A
Secure Access solution like&nbsp;<a class="Hyperlink SCXW137436711 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW137436711 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW137436711 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">LastPass</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW137436711 BCX0" style="background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #000000;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW137436711 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span> can help with making credential handoffs simple for IT and new employees alike.</p>
<div class="button-container"><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/trial/business?max=true"><button class="lp-button lp-button--primary">Try Business Max</button></a></div>
<p>Below are ten onboarding best practices worth building into your process.</p>
&nbsp;
<div id="calloutcontent1">&nbsp;</div>
<h2>How to build a great employee onboarding experience</h2>
<h3>1. Start the onboarding process before day one</h3>
<p>The best onboarding experiences begin before your new hire walks through the door. Starting early is your chance to handle administrative tasks like
paperwork, tax forms, and benefits enrollment so team members aren't buried in logistics on their first day.</p>
<p>Send a welcome email that includes what to expect during the first week, who to meet, and any reading materials that might help with getting up to speed.
Include practical details too, like where to go on arrival, what time to show up, and who to ask for at reception.</p>
<p>This early communication signals that your company is organized and that you're genuinely excited to have them join. It also gives new hires time to prepare
questions and mentally shift into their new role.</p>
<h3>2. Have all accounts and tools ready to go on arrival</h3>
<p>Before your new hire arrives, make sure their laptop is configured, accounts are created, and all necessary applications are installed. This way, your
people can focus on learning and meeting the team instead of waiting for IT access.</p>
<p>This requires coordination between HR, IT, and the hiring manager. Create a checklist of every tool and account the role needs. Does the new hire need
access to your CRM? Project management software? Communication tools like Slack or Teams? Get all of this sorted ahead of time.</p>
<p>A solution with password management makes credential handoffs much easier. Instead of sending login details through insecure channels, you can share access
through&nbsp;<a class="Hyperlink SCXW98463182 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/shared-folders" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW98463182 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #467886;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW98463182 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></a><a class="Hyperlink SCXW98463182 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/shared-folders" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW98463182 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW98463182 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">encrypted folders</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW98463182 BCX0" style="background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #000000;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW98463182 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</span></span> that keep sensitive information protected.</p>
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<h3>3. Assign a buddy or mentor for the first few weeks</h3>
<p>New employees often have questions they might hesitate to ask their manager. That's where an onboarding buddy comes in. This person serves as a friendly
resource for the day-to-day questions that don't quite warrant a meeting.</p>
<p>Choose a buddy who knows the company well and genuinely enjoys helping others. This shouldn't feel like a burden for either party. The buddy can explain
unwritten rules, introduce new hires to colleagues, and help them navigate office culture.</p>
<p>Regular informal check-ins with the buddy during the first few weeks help new hires feel more comfortable and connected. It's also a chance for them to hear
honest perspectives about what it's really like to work at your company.</p>
<h3>4. Create a structured first-week schedule</h3>
<p>A clear first-week schedule helps new hires know exactly what to expect and where to focus their energy.</p>
<p>Map out each day with a mix of orientation sessions, team introductions, training, and independent time. Build in breaks so new hires aren't overwhelmed
with back-to-back meetings. Include time for them to explore their tools, read documentation, and ask questions.</p>
<p>Share the schedule before the start date so team members know what's coming. Knowing what to expect helps reduce first-day nerves and allows employees to
arrive ready to engage.</p>
<h3>5. Set clear 30-60-90-day expectations and goals</h3>
<p>New hires want to know what success looks like in their role. Clear goals give them focus and direction.</p>
<p>Work with the hiring manager to define specific, measurable objectives for the first 30, 60, and 90 days. Think about what skills new hires need to develop,
what projects they should be involved in, and how much independence they should have by each milestone. The specifics will vary depending on the role, but
having clear benchmarks gives new hires something concrete to work toward.</p>
<p>Write these expectations down and review them together. Check in regularly to track progress and adjust goals if needed. This framework gives new hires a
roadmap and reassures them that they're on track.</p>
<h3>6. Introduce company culture early</h3>
<p>Onboarding often focuses heavily on compliance training and policy reviews. While these are necessary, they don't tell new hires who you really are as a
company. Culture needs intentional introduction too.</p>
<p>Share your company's mission, values, and the "why" behind what you do. Explain how teams collaborate, how decisions get made, and what behaviors are
celebrated. If possible, have leadership share the company's story directly.</p>
<p>Introduce new hires to different departments early on, even if they won't work together directly. This helps your new team members understand how their role
fits into the bigger picture and builds cross-functional relationships from the start.</p>
<h3>7. Use secure systems to share credentials and sensitive access</h3>
<p>Email and Slack messages weren't designed for sharing login credentials. <a class="Hyperlink SCXW34812729 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/password-manager" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW34812729 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;">Password management</span></a>&nbsp;offers a better way to get new hires the access they need.</p>
<p>With password management, you can share specific credentials through encrypted folders and control exactly what each person can see. When permissions change
or someone leaves, you can revoke access in a few clicks.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/trial/business?max=true"><button class="lp-button lp-button--primary">Try Business Max</button></a></p>
<p>This keeps sensitive information protected while making life easier for IT. New employees get what they need on day one, and admins stay in control.</p>
<h3>8. Schedule regular check-ins throughout the first 90 days</h3>
<p>Regular check-ins with their manager help new hires feel supported, answer questions early, and show that you're invested in their success.</p>
<p>Weekly one-on-ones during the first month work well, then you can shift to biweekly as they settle in. Use these conversations to discuss how onboarding is
going, what's working, and where new hires need more support.</p>
<p>Check-ins also give managers insight into how the onboarding process itself is performing. If the same questions or frustrations keep coming up, that's
feedback you can use to improve things for future hires.</p>
<h3>9. Don't overwhelm new hires with everything at once</h3>
<p>It's tempting to front-load onboarding with every piece of information a new hire might eventually need. But too much too fast leads to information
overload. People can only absorb so much before details start slipping through the cracks.</p>
<p>Prioritize what's essential for the first week and save deeper training for later. New employees don't need to master every system on day two. Conduct your
training in phases so new hires can build competence gradually rather than feeling buried.</p>
<p>Give new employees permission to learn at their own pace where possible. Let them know it's okay to revisit training materials and ask questions later. This
takes the pressure off and leads to better retention.</p>
<h3>10. Collect feedback to improve your onboarding process</h3>
<p>Onboarding isn't a one-and-done project. The best programs evolve based on input from the people who go through them. Ask new hires for feedback at multiple
points: after week one, after 30 days, and after 90 days.</p>
<p>Keep questions specific. What felt confusing? What information did they wish they had sooner? What surprised them about the company or role? Their fresh
perspective is invaluable because they notice things long-term employees no longer see.</p>
<p>Use this feedback to make tangible improvements. When new hires see their input put into action, it reinforces that their voice matters, which is itself a
powerful onboarding experience.</p>
<h2>How LastPass helps you onboard employees securely</h2>
<p>LastPass makes it easy to share credentials with new hires securely. You can organize passwords into shared folders by team, department, or project, and
grant new employees access to exactly what they need for their role. Instead of sending logins over email or Slack, everything stays <a class="Hyperlink SCXW72345596 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/security" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW72345596 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #467886;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW72345596 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></a><a class="Hyperlink SCXW72345596 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/security" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; background-color: #ffffff; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW72345596 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW72345596 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">encrypted and protected</span></span></a>.</p>
<p class="Paragraph SCXW258403471 BCX0" paraid="527509673" paraeid="{c2c859ec-0995-4779-b1ad-7eb5bde0ba4e}{118}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If your company uses an&nbsp;</span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW258403471 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/directory-integration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #467886;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span></a><a class="Hyperlink SCXW258403471 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/directory-integration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">identity provider</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;like Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta, or OneLogin, LastPass can automatically create accounts for new hires when you add them to your directory. This saves time and means one less thing for IT to set up manually.</span><span class="EOP SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{'134233117':false,'134233118':false,'201341983':0,'335559738':240,'335559739':240,'335559740':276}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p>
<p class="Paragraph SCXW258403471 BCX0" paraid="1503984376" paraeid="{c2c859ec-0995-4779-b1ad-7eb5bde0ba4e}{120}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And if someone forgets their master password during their first week, LastPass offers several</span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW258403471 BCX0" href="https://support.lastpass.com/help/about-account-recovery-options-in-lastpass" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #467886;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;</span></span></a>&nbsp;<a class="Hyperlink SCXW258403471 BCX0" href="https://support.lastpass.com/help/about-account-recovery-options-in-lastpass" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">recovery options</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;so&nbsp;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">news hires&nbsp;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">aren&rsquo;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;stuck waiting on IT.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{'134233117':false,'134233118':false,'201341983':0,'335559738':240,'335559739':240,'335559740':276}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></p>
<p class="Paragraph SCXW258403471 BCX0" paraid="910223111" paraeid="{c2c859ec-0995-4779-b1ad-7eb5bde0ba4e}{122}" style="color: windowtext; background-color: transparent; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="Hyperlink SCXW258403471 BCX0" href="https://www.lastpass.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun Underlined SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; color: #1155cc;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Try LastPass free</span></span></a><span data-contrast="auto" class="TextRun SCXW258403471 BCX0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">&nbsp;and see how it fits into your onboarding process.</span></p>
<div id="callout">&nbsp;</div>

10 employee onboarding best practices in 2026

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Starting onboarding&nbsp;before day one helps new hires feel prepared and reduces first-day anxiety.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Having accounts and credentials ready through a tool like LastPass&nbsp;eliminates&nbsp;frustrating access delays.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Assigning mentors and scheduling regular check-ins keeps new employees engaged and supported.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Clear&nbsp;30-60-90-day&nbsp;goals give new hires direction and measurable milestones to work toward. </li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Collecting feedback throughout onboarding helps you&nbsp;identify&nbsp;gaps and improve the process over time.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key takeaways: Employee onboarding best practices

FAQs about employee onboarding best practices

Discover employee onboarding best practices that help new hires succeed from day one, including secure credential sharing and structured schedules.

10 Employee Onboarding Best Practices to Start Your Employee Off in the Right Direction

<p><em>A Q&amp;A with Wendy VanDeventer-Jones, National Director of Information Technology, Society of St. Vincent de
Paul USA</em></p>
<p>For nonprofits, cybersecurity can feel like an afterthought. Budgets are tight, IT teams are lean, and the focus is
always rightly on the mission. But <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/phishing">phishing</a> attacks, <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/protect-business-from-credential-theft">credential theft</a>, and <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/account-takeover">account takeovers</a> are just as likely to
target a charitable organization as a Fortune 500 company. The consequences can be devastating: disrupted services,
compromised donor data, and a loss of the trust that nonprofits depend on.</p>
<p>Every day, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul shows up for people in need, delivering food, clothing, financial
assistance, and human connection to millions of individuals across 155 countries. People rely on their services, and
disruptions can be disastrous. We spoke with Wendy VanDeventer-Jones, their National Director of Information
Technology, about the password security challenges they faced, the incident that made change urgent, and how LastPass
helped them build a more secure foundation &mdash; without stretching an already limited budget.</p>
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<h2>Q: Can you tell us about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the work you do?</h2>
<p>A: <em>The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA is a Catholic lay organization that leads women and men to grow
spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are in need and suffering. We operate as part of a
global network spanning 155 countries, serving millions of people every day. Our team at the National Council of the
United States handles the administrative functions that keep conferences and councils across the country running
smoothly.</em></p>
<h2>Q: What security challenges were you facing before finding a solution?</h2>
<p>A: <em>Like many organizations, we were dealing with vulnerabilities that are all too common: frequent password
reuse across multiple applications and team members leaving written passwords exposed in easily accessible areas. We
knew these habits created real risk, but we needed a solution that people would actually use.</em></p>
<h2>Q: What was the moment that made solving this a priority?</h2>
<p>A: <em>A team member was targeted in a phishing incident and had to update passwords across several accounts &mdash; all
because they had reused the same credentials. That was the tipping point. It made the risk very real and very
urgent.</em></p>
<h2>Q: Why was LastPass the right fit for a nonprofit like yours?</h2>
<p>A: <em>As a nonprofit, we can't invest in expensive security infrastructure. We needed something that would allow
users to create unique, complex passwords stored in a secure, easy-to-use environment, without breaking the budget.
LastPass checked all those boxes without costly infrastructure.</em></p>
<h2>Q: What's been the impact since implementing LastPass?</h2>
<p>A: <em>The difference has been meaningful. We've reduced the risk of account takeovers, eliminated the sticky-note
problem entirely, and significantly improved our overall IT security posture. Our team can now focus on our mission &mdash;
serving those in need &mdash; with greater confidence that our organization is protected.</em></p>
<p>The story of <a href="https://ssvpusa.org/">St. Vincent de Paul's</a> security journey is one that will resonate with IT leaders across the nonprofit
sector and beyond. The vulnerabilities the organization faced weren't the result of carelessness, but rather an
impossible balancing act that so many teams know well: do more with less, protect everything, and never lose sight of
why you're there in the first place.</p>
<p>What makes their approach worth paying attention to is its simplicity. They didn't overhaul their entire
infrastructure or bring in an army of consultants.</p>
<p>Security doesn't have to be the domain of large enterprises with deep pockets. With the right tools, even the
leanest teams can build meaningful defenses. <span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW137086289 BCX0" style="border: 0px none #222222; opacity: 1; height: auto; width: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-image: none; color: #222222;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW137086289 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)">For the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA</span></span>, protecting their organization is an extension of
protecting the people they serve, and that's a mission worth taking seriously.</p>
<p>Ready to protect your organization like <span data-contrast="none" class="TextRun SCXW137086289 BCX0" style="border: 0px none #222222; opacity: 1; height: auto; width: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-spacing: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-image: none; color: #222222;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW137086289 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="Normal (Web)"> the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA</span></span>?</p>
<p>Discover how LastPass helps nonprofits and businesses of all sizes secure access without the overhead.</p>
<br />
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How a Nonprofit Secured Millions With Smarter Cybersecurity

Learn how the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA reduced credential risk and strengthened IT security using LastPass — without breaking a tight nonprofit budget.

Customer Q&A: How a Global Nonprofit Is Protecting Millions With Smarter Cybersecurity

<p>When someone leaves your company, there's a lot more to think about than returning a laptop. You've got logins to
revoke, passwords to change, and devices to recover. It sounds like a lot, but once you've set up a solid process,
each departure just means following the same steps.</p>
<p>This guide walks you through eight essential steps to offboard employees securely, from revoking access to
documenting everything for compliance. <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a> automates much of this process, making it easy to remove users and
revoke their access to shared passwords in just a few clicks.</p>
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&nbsp;
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<h2>How to offboard an employee securely</h2>
<h3>1. Create a standardized offboarding checklist before you need it</h3>
<p>Having your offboarding checklist ready before you need it makes everything smoother. When someone hands in their
resignation, you can focus on the transition instead of scrambling to figure out which accounts need attention.</p>
<p>Your checklist should cover every system, tool, and account your team uses. Think about cloud apps, internal
databases, shared drives, email accounts, and any third-party services. Write down who's responsible for revoking
access to each one.</p>
<p>Keep this document somewhere accessible, like a shared drive or your IT documentation hub. Review it quarterly to
add new tools and remove old ones.</p>
<h3>2. Coordinate timing between HR, IT, and the departing employee's manager</h3>
<p>Offboarding works best when HR, IT, and the departing employee's manager are all on the same page. HR knows the
departure date, IT controls system access, and the manager understands what the employee worked on. A quick sync
between the three makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.</p>
<p>Schedule a quick meeting or send an email looping in all three parties as soon as you know someone is leaving.
Agree on the exact time when access should be revoked. For voluntary departures, this might be the end of the day on
their last day. For involuntary terminations, you may want to revoke access during the termination meeting.</p>
<h3>3. Revoke access to critical systems immediately upon departure</h3>
<p>Start with your most sensitive systems first. This means financial software, customer databases, HR records, and
any tools with payment information. These deserve your attention before anything else.</p>
<p>Work through a priority list. Email and communication tools should be high up since they're often connected to
other services through single sign-on. Cloud storage comes next because departing employees might try to download
files before losing access.</p>
<p>If you're using a password manager with <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/user-management">admin controls</a>, you can revoke access to all shared credentials with a
single action instead of hunting through dozens of individual accounts.</p>
<h3>4. Transfer ownership of shared accounts and credentials</h3>
<p>Some accounts belong to the company, not the individual. Social media logins, vendor portals, shared email
addresses, and subscription services often fall into this category. Before someone leaves, figure out who will take
over.</p>
<p>When possible, transfer ownership while the departing employee is still around. They can walk the new owner through
any quirks, hand over any <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/multifactor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a> devices, and confirm the transition happened smoothly. If that's
not an option, make sure the new owner has admin access to reset credentials as needed.</p>
<p>Document these transfers in writing. You'll want a clear record of who now owns each account and when the handoff
occurred.</p>
<h3>5. Recover company devices and disable remote access</h3>
<p>A return checklist helps you keep track of what's been collected and what's still outstanding. This is especially
useful if your company has equipment spread across multiple offices or remote locations.</p>
<p>Don't wait until devices are returned to disable remote access. Revoke VPN credentials, remove the device from your
mobile device management (MDM) system, and disable any remote desktop connections immediately when the employee
leaves.</p>
<p>If a device isn't returned, you can remotely wipe it through your MDM tools. Make sure this capability is
configured before you ever need it.</p>
<h3>6. Change shared passwords the departing employee knew</h3>
<p>Here's where things get tricky. If the former employee knew a password, changing it is the only way to guarantee
they can no longer use it. This includes any shared team credentials, service accounts, and passwords that were stored
in <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/shared-folders">shared folders</a>.</p>
<p>A password manager makes this manageable. You can see exactly which passwords someone accessed and generate new
strong passwords for each one. Without a password manager, you're stuck guessing which credentials they might have
memorized.</p>
<p>If you're using a <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/secure-access-essentials">secure access</a> solution like <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a> with password management capabilities, updating shared
passwords is straightforward. Change the credential in the shared folder, and everyone who still has access
automatically gets the new version. No need to send passwords through email or chat.</p>
<div id="callout">&nbsp;</div>
<h3>7. Remove the user from your password manager and SSO tools</h3>
<p>Your password management solution and <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/sso">single sign-on</a> (SSO) platform are the master keys to your company's access.
Removing someone from these tools cuts off access to all connected applications at once.</p>
<p>In LastPass, admins can delete a user's account and automatically revoke access to all shared folders and
passwords. The process takes seconds and creates an audit trail showing when and how access was removed.</p>
<p>If you use an identity provider like <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/federated-login/microsoft-entra">Microsoft Entra ID</a>, Okta, or Google Workspace, removing the user there can
automatically remove them from LastPass too.</p>
<h3>8. Audit access logs to confirm all permissions were revoked</h3>
<p>After you've revoked access everywhere, check the logs to confirm it worked. Look for any login attempts after the
revocation date and investigate anything suspicious.</p>
<p>Your password manager's admin dashboard should show active sessions and recent activity. SSO platforms track
application access. Cloud services like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 maintain detailed audit logs you can
search.</p>
<p>Pay special attention to any successful logins after the departure time. These might indicate a credential that
wasn't properly changed or an account you missed during offboarding.</p>
<h2>How do I offboard a remote employee?</h2>
<p>Offboarding remote employees follows the same basic steps, but device recovery takes more planning. You'll need to
arrange shipping for laptops and any other company equipment. Some companies use prepaid shipping labels to make this
easier.</p>
<p>The access revocation side is actually simpler with remote workers since everything is already digital. Remove them
from the system, and their access is gone whether they're in the office or across the country.</p>
<p>One thing to double-check: remote employees sometimes use personal devices for work. Make sure any company data on
those devices is wiped or transferred before their last day.</p>
<h2>Why should you automate employee offboarding?</h2>
<p>When your <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/solutions/secure-access">secure access solution</a> and <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/directory-integration">identity provider</a> talk to each other, offboarding becomes remarkably simple.
Remove someone from your directory, and that change ripples through every connected system automatically. One action,
dozens of accounts handled.</p>
<p>Automation also keeps great records for you. Instead of manually documenting each step, the system logs every
action as it happens. When audit time rolls around, you've already got everything you need.</p>
<p>The real win is confidence. You don't have to wonder if you forgot to revoke access to that random app someone
signed up for six months ago. The system handles it for you.</p>
<h2>How LastPass helps you offboard employees securely</h2>
<p>LastPass simplifies the offboarding process. When someone leaves, you can remove their account from the <a href="https://support.lastpass.com/help/what-is-the-new-admin-console">Admin Console</a> and immediately cut off their access to all shared passwords and folders. It takes seconds.</p>
<p>You can also see exactly which credentials the departing employee had access to, so you know which passwords need
changing. The built-in <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/password-generator">password generator</a> creates strong replacements with a single click.</p>
<p>LastPass connects directly with identity providers like Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta, and OneLogin.
This means removing someone from your company directory can automatically remove them from LastPass too. One less
thing to remember.</p>
<p>If your team is looking for a solution that makes access management simple, <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/business">try LastPass Business</a>.</p>
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8 essential steps to effective employee offboarding in 2026

<ol class="ol1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Create a standardized offboarding checklist</strong>&nbsp;before you need&nbsp;it&nbsp;so nothing slips through the cracks.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Coordinate timing between HR, IT, and the manager</strong>&nbsp;to align on the employee's departure date and access cutoff.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Revoke access to critical systems&nbsp;immediately</strong>&nbsp;upon departure to prevent unauthorized entry.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Transfer ownership of shared accounts</strong>&nbsp;to ensure someone else&nbsp;maintains&nbsp;access to essential credentials.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Recover company devices and disable remote access</strong>&nbsp;to prevent data from leaving your network.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Change shared passwords the departing employee&nbsp;knew</strong>&nbsp;so those credentials are no longer valid.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Remove the user from LastPass and SSO tools</strong>&nbsp;to revoke access across all connected apps. </li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;"><strong>Audit access logs to confirm revocation</strong>&nbsp;and verify no permissions&nbsp;remain&nbsp;active.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

Quick guide: How to offboard employees in 8 easy steps

Learn how to offboard employees securely with LastPass. This guide covers access revocation, password changes, and compliance documentation.

8 Essential Steps to Effective Employee Offboarding

<p>Ransomware attacks cost businesses millions every year, and they're getting more sophisticated. Attackers encrypt
your files and demand payment for their return. Sometimes they threaten to leak sensitive data if you don't pay
up.</p>
<p>Most ransomware attacks follow predictable patterns, which makes them easier to prevent. They often start with a
phishing email, a stolen credential, or an unpatched vulnerability. That means you can stop them before they start
with the right precautions. <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a> plays an important role by securing the credentials attackers often exploit to
gain access.</p>
<p>This guide covers eight proven ransomware prevention strategies you can put in place to keep your business
safe.</p>
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<h2>8 ransomware prevention strategies for your business</h2>
<h3>1. Back up critical data regularly and store copies offline</h3>
<p>Backups are your safety net when everything else fails. If ransomware encrypts your systems, a clean backup means
you can restore operations without paying a ransom.</p>
<p>The key is keeping at least one backup copy offline or air-gapped, meaning it's completely disconnected from your
network and the internet. Ransomware often targets connected backup drives and cloud storage. An offline backup stored
on a disconnected hard drive can't be touched.</p>
<p>Follow the 3-2-1 rule: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different types of storage, with one copy stored offsite.
Test your backups regularly by running restoration drills to make sure they work when you need them.</p>
<h3>2. Keep all software and systems updated with security patches</h3>
<p>Attackers love unpatched software. When a vendor releases a security patch, it often reveals the exact
vulnerability that existed before. Attackers reverse-engineer these patches to target organizations that haven't
updated yet.</p>
<p>Enable automatic updates wherever possible. For systems that require testing before updates, create a schedule and
stick to it. Prioritize patches for internet-facing systems, operating systems, and commonly exploited applications
like browsers and email clients.</p>
<p>Don't forget about legacy systems. If you're running software that no longer receives updates, isolate it from the
rest of your network or plan for replacement.</p>
<h3>3. Train employees to recognize phishing and suspicious attachments</h3>
<p><a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/how-to-prevent-phishing">Phishing</a> is one of the most common ways ransomware gets into your network. Attackers craft convincing emails that
trick employees into clicking malicious links or opening infected attachments.</p>
<p>Effective training goes beyond annual presentations. Run simulated phishing campaigns to give employees hands-on
practice spotting suspicious emails. Share examples of real attacks that targeted similar organizations.</p>
<p>Teach employees to verify unexpected requests through a separate channel. If an email claims to be from a vendor
asking for payment, confirm it through your usual communication method with that vendor, whether that's Slack, Teams,
or a known email address.</p>
<h3>4. Use multifactor authentication on all accounts</h3>
<p>Stolen credentials are a goldmine for ransomware attackers. Once they have a working username and password, they
can log into your systems, move laterally, and deploy ransomware across your network.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/multifactor-authentication">Multifactor authentication</a> (MFA) stops most credential-based attacks cold. Even if an attacker has your password,
they can't get in without the second factor, whether that's a code from an authenticator app, a hardware key, or
biometric verification.</p>
<p>Prioritize MFA for email accounts, VPN access, remote desktop connections, and admin accounts. These are the access
points attackers target first. Use phishing-resistant methods like <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/solutions/authentication/yubico">hardware security keys</a> or FIDO2 biometrics when
possible, as these can't be intercepted like SMS codes.</p>
<h3>5. Limit user access to only what each employee needs</h3>
<p>The principle of least privilege limits damage when an account is compromised. If an attacker gains access through
a marketing employee's credentials, they shouldn't be able to reach financial systems or customer databases.</p>
<p>Review user permissions regularly. Employees often accumulate access rights as they change roles, and old
permissions rarely get revoked. Conduct quarterly access reviews to remove unnecessary privileges.</p>
<p>For admin accounts, consider just-in-time access. Rather than giving IT staff permanent admin rights, grant
elevated permissions only when needed and automatically revoke them after a set period. This shrinks the window
attackers have to exploit privileged accounts.</p>
<h3>6. Protect credentials with a secure access solution</h3>
<p>Weak and reused passwords give attackers an easy way in. <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/credential-stuffing">Credential stuffing</a> attacks test stolen username and
password combinations across multiple sites. If an employee uses the same password for a breached website and their
work email, attackers can walk right into your network.</p>
<p>A secure access solution like LastPass with password management capabilities <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/password-generator">generates unique, complex passwords</a>
for every account. Employees don't need to remember them, so there's no temptation to reuse something simple. The tool
fills credentials automatically, making secure behavior the path of least resistance.</p>
<p>Look for a solution that offers a <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/security-dashboard">security dashboard</a> to identify weak or reused passwords across your organization.
Dark web monitoring can alert you when employee credentials appear in known data breaches, giving you time to change
them before attackers strike.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/trial/business"><button class="lp-button lp-button--primary">Try Business</button></a></p>
<h3>7. Segment your network to contain potential breaches</h3>
<p>Network segmentation limits how far ransomware can spread once it gets inside. Instead of one flat network where
everything can talk to everything else, you create boundaries between different parts of your infrastructure.</p>
<p>Separate your network by function. Keep HR systems isolated from development environments. Put guest Wi-Fi on its
own segment. Ensure that point-of-sale systems can't communicate directly with file servers.</p>
<p>If ransomware infects one segment, firewalls and access controls prevent it from jumping to others. This buys you
time to detect the attack and respond before it reaches your most critical systems.</p>
<h3>8. Create an incident response plan before you need one</h3>
<p>When ransomware hits, every minute counts. Having a documented plan means your team can act immediately instead of
scrambling to figure out what to do.</p>
<p>Your plan should cover who makes decisions during an incident, how you'll communicate if email is compromised, and
which systems to isolate first. Include contact information for legal counsel, cyber insurance providers, and law
enforcement.</p>
<p>Run tabletop exercises to practice your response. Walk through scenarios with your team and identify gaps before a
real attack exposes them. Update the plan as your infrastructure changes and after each exercise reveals
improvements.</p>
<h2>How LastPass helps you protect against ransomware</h2>
<p>Stolen credentials fuel many ransomware attacks. LastPass removes this vulnerability by generating and storing
strong, unique passwords for every account your team uses.</p>
<p>With AES-256 encryption and a <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/security/zero-knowledge-security">zero-knowledge</a> architecture, your credentials stay protected even from LastPass
itself. Only you can decrypt and access your data with your master password. This means attackers can't steal usable
credentials from the LastPass vault.</p>
<p>LastPass supports multiple MFA options including authenticator apps, YubiKey hardware keys, and FIDO2 biometrics
like Windows Hello and Touch ID. Adding a second factor to your vault and critical accounts blocks attackers who
manage to obtain passwords through phishing or data breaches.</p>
<p>For businesses, LastPass offers over <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/user-management">120 security policies</a> that let admins enforce strong password requirements
across the organization. The Security Dashboard identifies weak, reused, and compromised passwords so you can fix
vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Dark web monitoring scans for your employees' credentials in known
breaches and alerts you to take action.</p>
<p>LastPass Business also integrates directly with identity providers like Microsoft Entra, <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/federated-login/okta-directory">Okta</a>, and Google, enabling
federated login and centralized access management.</p>
<p>Ready to strengthen your ransomware defenses? <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/business">Try LastPass Business</a> and secure your team's credentials.</p>
<div id="callout">&nbsp;</div>

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Ransomware attacks typically begin with phishing emails, stolen credentials, or unpatched software vulnerabilities.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Regular offline backups are your best recovery&nbsp;option&nbsp;if an attack succeeds, since attackers&nbsp;can't&nbsp;encrypt what they&nbsp;can't&nbsp;reach.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Multifactor authentication blocks most credential-based attacks, even when passwords are compromised.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">LastPass helps protect against ransomware by securing credentials with AES-256 encryption and enforcing strong password policies.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">An incident response plan prepared in advance can significantly reduce damage and recovery time during an attack.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key takeaways: ransomware prevention

FAQs about ransomware prevention

<p>Ransomware attacks cost businesses millions every year, and they're getting more sophisticated. Attackers encrypt
your files and demand payment for their return. Sometimes they threaten to leak sen[..]

8 Ways to Protect Against Ransomware Attacks

<p>User access reviews can feel like a lot to manage, especially if you're doing them for the first time. You're checking who has access to
what, making sure those permissions still make sense, and keeping records for your next audit.</p>
<p>The good news is that you don't have to do this all manually. <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a> gives you admin tools and reporting features that handle much of the
heavy lifting for credential and password access. In addition, LastPass's Business Max subscription allows you to spot unapproved AI and SaaS applications right from the browser so you can make sure your business is protected on all fronts.&nbsp;</p>
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<div id="calloutcontent1">&nbsp;</div>
<h2>How to run user access reviews for your business</h2>
<h3>1. Understand what user access reviews cover</h3>
<p>A user access review is a check on who can access what in your organization. You look at each user account, confirm the person still needs
that access, and verify their permission level matches their current role.</p>
<p>When someone has access they don't need, it creates risk. If their account gets compromised, an attacker can reach systems they shouldn't.
And if that person leaves the company on bad terms, they might still be able to get to sensitive data.</p>
<p>For <a href="https://compliance.lastpass.com/">compliance frameworks</a> like SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001, auditors expect to see that organizations regularly review user access and maintain
clear records of what was reviewed and why changes were made. Similar requirements also appear in SOX, PCI DSS, GDPR, and NIST frameworks,
all of which emphasize strong access controls, least privilege, and auditable evidence of enforcement. Regular access reviews aren't just a
best practice&mdash;they're a foundational control for meeting regulatory and security requirements.</p>
<p>To support these requirements, organizations should define and enforce a formal user access policy. This policy should clearly outline
expectations for least-privilege access, user provisioning and deprovisioning (including immediate revocation to prevent orphaned accounts),
segregation of duties, and audit logging. Having these standards documented&mdash;and consistently applied&mdash;makes access reviews more effective and
far easier to defend during an audit.</p>
<h3>2. Connect LastPass to your identity provider</h3>
<p>If you haven't already, connect LastPass to your <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/directory-integration">identity provider</a>. LastPass integrates with Microsoft Entra ID, Google Workspace, Okta,
Active Directory, and OneLogin, so your user data syncs automatically.</p>
<p>The AD Connector syncs user profiles in real-time, so you're always working with current data when you run your reviews.</p>
<p>This means when someone joins your company or changes roles, their LastPass access updates to match. When someone leaves and you remove
them from your directory, their LastPass access goes away too. No more orphaned accounts sitting around.</p>
<h3>3. Pull access reports from the LastPass Admin Console</h3>
<p>Log in to your LastPass Admin Console and head to the reporting section. From here, you can pull reports showing all your users, their
access levels, and recent activity.</p>
<p>This saves you from building spreadsheets manually or chasing down information from different systems. The data is already there, organized
and ready to review.</p>
<p>You can filter by team, role, or activity level to focus on the areas that matter most. If you're reviewing a specific department, you can
pull just that group instead of sorting through everyone.</p>
<h3>4. Review the Security Dashboard for red flags</h3>
<p>The LastPass <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/security-dashboard">Security Dashboard</a> highlights the issues you should pay attention to. It flags weak passwords, reused credentials, and old
passwords that haven't been updated in a while.</p>
<p>Look for dormant accounts that haven't been used in 30, 60, or 90 days. These might belong to former contractors, employees who switched
teams, or people who just stopped using a particular tool.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/dark-web-monitoring">Dark web monitoring</a> alerts you if any credentials have shown up in a third-party breach. If something gets flagged here, you'll want to
address it right away.</p>
<h3>5. Clean up issues directly in LastPass</h3>
<p>Once you've identified problems, you can fix them right in the Admin Console. Remove users who shouldn't have access anymore, adjust
permission levels, or revoke access to specific <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/shared-folders">shared folders</a>.</p>
<p>LastPass gives you four role types to work with: users, helpdesk admin, admin, and super admin. Each has different permissions, so you can
give people the right level of access for their job without over-provisioning.</p>
<p>With 120 customizable <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/creating-an-effective-business-password-policy">security policies</a>, you can also tighten up rules for things like password strength, <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/multifactor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a>, and
sharing permissions.</p>
<h3>6. Export reports for compliance documentation</h3>
<p>Auditors may want to see records of your access reviews. LastPass lets you export reports that show who had access, what changes were made,
and when.</p>
<p>Keep these exports organized by review date so you can find them easily when audit time comes around. A simple folder structure by quarter
or year works well.</p>
<p>If you need more advanced reporting, LastPass integrates with <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/achieve-greater-visibility-and-control-with-new-siem-integrations">SIEM platforms</a> like Splunk and Azure Sentinel. This lets you build custom
reports and automate compliance tracking.</p>
<h3>7. Set up recurring reports and alerts</h3>
<p>Instead of starting fresh every quarter, set up automated reports that run on a schedule. This way, the data is ready when you need it.</p>
<p>You can also configure alerts to notify you when something changes, like a new user being added or someone's permissions getting updated.
This helps you catch issues between formal reviews.</p>
<p>The goal is to make access reviews part of your regular routine rather than a scramble every few months.</p>
<h2>How to review access for your other business tools</h2>
<p>LastPass handles credential and password access, but your organization likely has other systems that need reviewing too, like your CRM,
accounting software, or cloud platforms.</p>
<p>For these, you'll need to check access separately. Many of these tools have their own admin consoles and reporting features. The process is
similar: pull a list of users, verify they still need access, and clean up anything outdated.</p>
<p>If your identity provider is connected to these systems, <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/federated-login">provisioning and deprovisioning </a>may already be automated. Check your IdP's admin
console to see what's synced and what needs manual review.</p>
<p>This is where <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/business-max">LastPass Business Max</a> goes further. SaaS Monitoring automatically discovers every AI and SaaS tool your employees are signing
into with corporate credentials &mdash; including unapproved apps you may not know exist. Instead of chasing down unmanaged AI and other apps manually, you get
visibility into what's actually being used. SaaS Protect then lets you act on that visibility: set usage rules, block unapproved tools, and
flag duplicate subscriptions, all from one dashboard.</p>
<h2>What should you look for during an access review?</h2>
<p>Dormant accounts are a good place to start. These are accounts that haven't been used in 30, 60, or 90 days. They might belong to former
contractors, employees who changed roles, or people who switched to a different tool.</p>
<p>Privilege creep is another thing to watch for. This happens when someone collects permissions over time as they move between projects or
teams. Someone who moved from engineering to marketing six months ago may still have access to systems they no longer use.</p>
<p>Shared accounts can be tricky because multiple people use the same credentials, which makes it harder to track who did what. If you spot
shared accounts, it's worth considering whether each person could have their own login instead.</p>
<p>Unapproved AI and SaaS tools are increasingly part of this picture. Employees often sign up for tools on their own using corporate
credentials, which means access is happening outside your visibility entirely. <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/business-max">LastPass Business Max's</a> SaaS Monitoring surfaces these apps
automatically, so you're not relying on self-reporting to know what's in use.</p>
<p>Beyond that, look for mismatches between job roles and access levels. Does an intern have admin permissions? Does someone in accounting
have access to the developer tools? These gaps are easier to catch when you're comparing access against current job functions.</p>
<p>You'll also want to check for accounts with access to sensitive data, like customer records or financial systems. These deserve a closer
look to make sure the access is still justified.</p>
<h2>What are common access review mistakes to avoid?</h2>
<p>Treating access reviews as a one-time project can cause problems down the road. Access changes constantly as people join, leave, and switch
roles, so a regular review schedule helps you keep up.</p>
<p>Sparse documentation can make things harder during audits. Keeping records of what you found and what actions you took gives you something
concrete to reference later.</p>
<p>Flagging issues without following through is another easy trap. Building cleanup time into your review process helps make sure the fixes
happen while everything is still fresh.</p>
<p>Finally, reviewing in isolation can mean missing context. Looping in department managers or team leads helps you understand whether
someone's access still makes sense for their current work.</p>
<h2>How LastPass helps you run user access reviews</h2>
<p>LastPass makes access reviews easier with built-in admin tools. The Admin Console shows you who has access to what, so you're not pulling
data from multiple places and stitching it together yourself.</p>
<p>The Security Dashboard flags weak passwords, reused credentials, and dormant accounts. Dark web monitoring alerts you if any credentials
show up in a third-party <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/seeking-soc2-compliance-get-a-password-manager">data breach</a>. These features surface the issues that need attention so you can focus your review time on making
decisions, not hunting for problems.</p>
<p>You get 120 customizable security policies and 4 admin role types: users, helpdesk admin, admin, and super admin. This lets you give people
the right level of access for their job and delegate reviews to the people who know each area best.</p>
<p>LastPass is <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/compliance-and-lastpass">SOC 2 Type II</a>, SOC 3, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701 certified, so the platform meets the same compliance standards you're
working toward.</p>
<p>Try LastPass Business Max and see how it can simplify your next access review.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/trial/business?max=true"><button class="lp-button lp-button--primary">Try Business Max</button></a></p>

How to conduct user access reviews in your organization

<ol>
    <li><strong>Understand what user access reviews cover</strong>&nbsp;and what you're looking for.</li>
    <li><strong>Connect LastPass to your identity provider</strong>&nbsp;so user data syncs automatically.</li>
    <li><strong>Pull access reports from the LastPass Admin Console</strong>&nbsp;to see who has access to what.</li>
    <li><strong>Review the Security Dashboard for red flags</strong>&nbsp;like dormant accounts and weak passwords.</li>
    <li><strong>Clean up issues directly in LastPass</strong>&nbsp;by removing users or adjusting permissions.</li>
    <li><strong>Export reports for compliance documentation</strong>&nbsp;so you're ready for auditors.</li>
    <li><strong>Set up recurring reports and alerts</strong>&nbsp;to keep things running smoothly between reviews.</li>
    <li><strong>Use LastPass to surface unapproved AI and SaaS apps </strong>-&nbsp;<strong></strong>after&nbsp;you've&nbsp;cleaned up known access issues,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/saas-monitoring"><span class="s1"><strong>SaaS Monitoring</strong></span></a>&nbsp;scans for AI and SaaS tools&nbsp;employees are signing&nbsp;into with&nbsp;corporate credentials that never went through an approval process. Use&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/saas-protect"><span class="s1"><strong>SaaS Protect</strong></span></a>&nbsp;to set rules or block access to anything that&nbsp;shouldn't&nbsp;be there.
    <p>&nbsp;</p>
    </li>
</ol>

Quick guide: How to conduct user access reviews in 7 easy steps

FAQs about user access reviews

Learn how to conduct user access reviews with LastPass. Use admin reports, the Security Dashboard, and automated alerts to simplify the process.

How to Conduct User Access Reviews in Your Organization

<p>LastPass continues to set the standard in secure access, earning 63 badges across 186 categories in <a href="https://research.g2.com/market-reports">G2's Spring2026 Grid Reports</a>. This latest achievement reinforces our position as a leading provider of the essential tools any
business needs to protect itself from the risks associated with credential misuse and unapproved apps and AI.</p>
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<p>G2 releases quarterly reports that spotlight industry-leading software based on verified customer feedback. These
accolades reflect authentic experiences from real LastPass users who share their insights through detailed G2 reviews,
making this recognition a true testament to our product's value.</p>
<div id="calloutcontent1">&nbsp;</div>
<p>Our users consistently praise <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a> for its ease of use, seamless browser integration, reliable support, and
access management features. </p>
<h2>Here's what customers are saying about their LastPass experience:</h2>
<p><em>I really like how LastPass allows us to easily add team members on the fly ... This makes it simple to allocate
resources and perform quick audits on who has access to which resource. I also found the initial setup very easy,
since we were able to bulk upload passwords once our accounts were created</em>. - <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/lastpass/reviews/lastpass-review-12394089">Graham M.</a></p>
<p><em>I like the continuous updates that are provided to keep the application always at the top. I think LastPass already
works particularly well. Once you understand the management of folders and more, it is very easy to use.</em> - <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/lastpass/reviews/lastpass-review-12307569">Gian LucaF.</a></p>
<p><em>I really like LastPass for the convenience it offers. Specifically, I love being able to launch a website directly
from the app and access all logins for a website when I'm on the login page. It's great to just navigate to the item
from the search bar, click 'Launch,' and be taken to the website where I'm logged in automatically. In our company,
it's super convenient because each person has their own login, and we can easily see all logins for a specific
website. I also appreciate the 'Help' feature, which has resolved my problems whenever I've used it.</em> - <a href="https://www.g2.com/products/lastpass/reviews/lastpass-review-12395435">Shirley D.</a></p>
<h2>Ready to see why thousands of users trust LastPass?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.g2.com/products/lastpass/reviews">Visit our G2 profile</a> to read more reviews and share your own experience with the LastPass community, and read about
why LastPass was recently named in <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/company/newsroom/24500a8e-1421-42bf-9e9f-33b62ea7369c">G2's list of top security software in 2026</a>.</p>
<p><strong>About G2:</strong> G2 is the world's largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 80 million
people annually &mdash; including employees at all of the Fortune 500 &mdash; use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on
authentic peer reviews.</p>
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LastPass Leads G2's Spring 2026 Grid Reports with 63 Badges

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Grid Leader: Overall&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Best Est. ROI: SMB&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Momentum Leader: Overall&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Best&nbsp;Usability: Overall&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Easiest to do Business With: Mid-Market</li>
</ul>

Key achievements from G2’s Spring 2026 Grid Reports

LastPass earned 63 badges across 186 categories in G2's Spring 2026 Grid Reports, including Grid Leader Overall and   Best Usability. See what real users are saying.

LastPass Dominates G2’s Spring 2026 Grid Reports as the #1 Password Manager

<p>Social engineering attacks don't rely on complex code or sophisticated hacking tools. Instead, they target the most vulnerable part of any security
system: human psychology. Attackers manipulate people into handing over sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or granting unauthorized
access.</p>
<p>These attacks work because they exploit trust, urgency, and authority. A well-crafted phishing email can fool even the most cautious employee, while a
convincing phone call can bypass layers of technical security. That's why training your team to recognize these tactics is your first line of defense.</p>
<p>In this article, we'll walk through 8 of the most common social engineering tactics and show you how to protect your organization from each one.
Combined with a password manager like <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/">LastPass</a>, your business can enforce stronger security practices company-wide.</p>
<div id="calloutcontent1">&nbsp;</div>
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<h2>8 social engineering attack types and how to protect your business</h2>
<h3>1. Phishing emails disguised as trusted sources</h3>
<p><a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/phishing">Phishing</a> is one of the most common forms of social engineering. Attackers send emails that appear to come from trusted organizations like banks,
software vendors, or internal departments. These messages often include urgent language designed to pressure employees into acting quickly.</p>
<p>Common phishing examples include fake password reset requests, fraudulent invoice notifications, and alerts about suspicious account activity. The
emails typically contain links to counterfeit login pages that capture employee credentials.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Train employees to verify sender email addresses carefully. They should hover over links before clicking to see the actual destination URL. If
something feels off, employees should contact the organization directly through the official website rather than using any links in the email.</p>
<p>A password manager like LastPass adds another layer of protection. Its <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/autofill">autofill</a> feature only works on legitimate websites, so if an employee lands on a
fake login page, LastPass won't offer to fill in their credentials. That pause can be the warning sign that something's wrong.</p>
<h3>2. Pretexting with fake scenarios to extract information</h3>
<p>Pretexting involves creating a fabricated scenario to trick employees into revealing sensitive information. An attacker might pose as a bank
representative, IT technician, or auditor who needs specific details to "verify an account" or "resolve an issue."</p>
<p>These attacks succeed because they establish a believable context. The attacker does research beforehand, learning names, job titles, and company
details to make their story convincing. They might reference real projects or recent company events.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Establish verification procedures across your organization. Train employees to ask for callback numbers and verify them independently. Be wary of
anyone requesting sensitive information, even if they seem to know details about the company or specific employees.</p>
<p>Using <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/password-generator">unique passwords</a> for every account limits the damage if an attacker does extract credentials. With LastPass, employees can generate strong,
unique passwords without having to remember them all.</p>
<h3>3. Baiting with infected USB drives or free downloads</h3>
<p>Baiting exploits curiosity and the appeal of getting something for free. Attackers leave infected USB drives in public places like parking lots,
lobbies, or coffee shops. When someone plugs the drive into their computer, malware installs automatically.</p>
<p>Digital baiting works similarly. Attackers offer free software downloads, movie files, or game cheats that contain hidden malware. Once installed,
these programs can <a href="yhttps://blog.lastpass.com/posts/credential-theft-prevention">steal credentials</a>, log keystrokes, or give attackers remote access to company systems.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Establish clear policies: employees should never plug unknown USB drives into work computers. Software downloads should only come from approved
sources. If an employee finds a random USB drive, they should turn it in to the IT department rather than investigating what's on it.</p>
<h3>4. Tailgating to gain physical access to secure areas</h3>
<p>Tailgating, also called piggybacking, targets physical security rather than digital systems. An attacker waits near a secured entrance and follows an
authorized person through the door. They might pretend to be carrying heavy boxes or fumbling for their badge.</p>
<p>Once inside, attackers can access computers, plant devices, or steal physical documents. They often dress professionally and act like they belong,
making them difficult to spot.</p>
<p>It's worth noting that although many use these two terms interchangeably, there is a slight difference, according to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hemantsajwan_cissp-aspirants-heres-a-tiny-difference-activity-7425212275613052929-ssKi">ISC2</a>.</p>
<ul>
    <li>Tailgating = unauthorized person follows authorized person in without the latter knowing</li>
    <li>Piggybacking = unauthorized person enters with authorized person's knowledge</li>
</ul>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Train employees to always badge in themselves, even when holding the door would seem polite. Staff should politely ask unfamiliar faces to use their
own credentials. Encourage reporting of anyone who seems to be wandering or asking unusual questions about building layout or security systems.</p>
<h3>5. Vishing phone calls impersonating IT or executives</h3>
<p>Vishing, or <a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/vishing">voice phishing</a>, uses phone calls instead of emails. Attackers pose as IT support, bank representatives, or company executives. They create
urgency by claiming there's a security problem, a payment issue, or an executive request that needs immediate action.</p>
<p>These calls often come from spoofed numbers that appear legitimate on caller ID. The caller may already know names, departments, and other details that
make them seem authentic.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Train employees to verify caller identity before sharing any information. They should call back using the official number from the company directory or
the organization's website. Remind staff that legitimate IT departments won't ask for passwords over the phone.</p>
<p>Even if an employee does share a password, enabling <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/multifactor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a> through LastPass adds a second barrier. Attackers can't access protected
accounts with the password alone.</p>
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<h3>6. Spear phishing targeting specific employees by name</h3>
<p><a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/spear-phishing">Spear phishing</a> takes standard phishing to a more personal level. Instead of sending generic messages to thousands of people, attackers research
specific individuals and craft tailored emails. These messages reference real colleagues, projects, or events.</p>
<p>An attacker might impersonate an employee's manager and reference a specific meeting from last week. They could pose as a vendor the company has worked
with before. The personalization makes these attacks far more convincing.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Train employees to be cautious of unexpected requests, even from familiar names. Staff should verify unusual requests through a separate communication
channel. If a "manager" emails asking for sensitive information, the employee should walk over to their desk or call them directly.</p>
<p>LastPass autofill adds a technical safeguard here too. Even if a spear phishing email links to a convincing fake login page, LastPass won't recognize
the fraudulent URL and won't offer to fill credentials.</p>
<h3>7. Business email compromise from spoofed executive accounts</h3>
<p>Business email compromise, or BEC, involves attackers impersonating executives or senior leaders to request wire transfers, gift card purchases, or
sensitive employee data. These emails often create extreme urgency and stress confidentiality.</p>
<p>Attackers may register domains that look nearly identical to your company's domain, changing just one letter. They study executive communication
patterns and send requests during times when verification is less likely, like late Friday afternoons.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Implement dual-approval processes for financial transactions. Train employees to verify any unusual executive requests through a phone call or
in-person confirmation. Establish a culture where no one rushes a transaction, regardless of how urgent the email sounds.</p>
<p>LastPass supports this defense by enabling <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/multifactor-authentication">multifactor authentication</a> on critical accounts. Even if attackers compromise an executive's email password,
MFA can block unauthorized access to the account.</p>
<h3>8. Quid pro quo offers of help in exchange for credentials</h3>
<p>Quid pro quo attacks offer something valuable in exchange for access or information. An attacker might call claiming to be tech support, offering to
fix a computer problem if the employee just shares their login credentials or installs a "diagnostic tool."</p>
<p>These attacks work because they position the attacker as helpful rather than threatening. The victim feels like they're receiving a service, not being
exploited.</p>
<h4>How to prevent it:</h4>
<p>Educate employees to never share credentials with anyone claiming to offer unsolicited help. Staff should verify tech support calls by contacting the
IT department directly. Remind your team that legitimate support personnel can resolve issues without needing passwords.</p>
<h2>How LastPass helps your business defend against social engineering</h2>
<p>Strong, unique passwords are your safety net when social engineering attacks succeed. If an attacker tricks an employee into entering credentials on a
fake site, using a different password for every account limits the damage to that single account. LastPass generates complex passwords and stores them in
an encrypted vault protected by AES-256 encryption with <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/security/zero-knowledge-security">zero-knowledge architecture</a>, meaning only your employees can access their own data.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/security-dashboard">Security Dashboard</a> monitors password health across your organization and alerts admins to weak, reused, or compromised credentials. <a href="https://www.lastpass.com/features/dark-web-monitoring">Dark webmonitoring</a> notifies you when company information appears in data breaches, so you can take action fast.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/products/business">LastPass Business</a> offers over 120 customizable security policies and integrates with major identity providers like Microsoft Entra, Okta, and Google
Workspace. Admins can manage user access, enforce strong password requirements, and automate provisioning when employees join or leave.</p>
<p>Multifactor authentication adds another layer of defense. Even if attackers obtain a password through social engineering, they can't access accounts
protected by MFA through options like the LastPass Authenticator, YubiKey, or FIDO2 biometrics.</p>
<p>Start your free LastPass Business trial and strengthen your organization's password security.</p>
<div class="button-container"><a href="https://www.lastpass.com/trial/business"><button class="lp-button lp-button--primary">Try Business</button></a></div>

8 common social engineering attacks (and how to avoid them)

<ul class="ul1" style="color: #000000;">
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Social engineering attacks manipulate human psychology rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities in your systems.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Phishing examples include fake login pages, spoofed sender addresses, and urgent requests for sensitive company information.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Attackers often impersonate trusted figures like IT staff, executives, or vendors to manipulate employees quickly.&nbsp;</li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">Training employees to recognize red flags is one of the most effective defenses against social engineering attempts. </li>
    <li class="li1" style="margin: 0px;">LastPass helps employees use unique passwords for every account, reducing the damage if any single credential is compromised.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Key Takeaways: 8 common social engineering attacks

FAQs about social engineering attacks

Learn how to recognize social engineering attacks like phishing, pretexting, and vishing. Protect your business with these prevention tips.

8 Common Social Engineering Attacks (and How to Avoid Them) 

<p>One chapter in the saga of infostealer malware has ended&mdash;at least for now&mdash;after a global law enforcement takedown of Lumma Stealer in mid-May. US, European, and Japanese authorities, with the help of tech companies including Microsoft and Cloudflare, took down, suspended, and blocked approximately 2,300 malicious domains that made up part of the infostealer&rsquo;s backbone. The FBI also seized domains that served as login panels allowing other criminals to access and use the infostealer. Although, this seizure is intended to effectively prevent criminals from being able to access Lumma to compromise computers and steal data, the overall stealer threat will remain prevalent for the foreseeable future. </p>
<p><em>(Interested in learning more about the infostealer threat outlook? Read the LastPass TIME team&rsquo;s threat predictions and analysis on </em><a href="https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/2025-cybersecurity-trends"><em>what direction infostealers and other threats are heading</em></a><em>.) </em></p>
<h2>What is Lumma?</h2>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p>Lumma Stealer, also known as LummaC2, dominated the expanding stealer market with significant campaigns since it emerged as early as late 2022. Since its initial release, Lumma&rsquo;s developers have released multiple upgraded versions of the software. Before the malware-as-a-service (MaaS) platform was dismantled, the FBI linked Lumma to around <a href="https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/05/lumma-information-stealer-infrastructure-disrupted">10 million infections</a> globally. Lumma&rsquo;s follow-on attacks involving stealing credentials, cryptocurrency data, and credit card information have resulted in an estimated <a href="https://cyberscoop.com/lumma-infostealer-widespread-victims/">$36.5 million USD</a> in credit card theft in 2023. The malware hit individuals and a wide range of industries, including Fortune 500 companies, airlines, universities, banks, and hospitals. </p>
<p>What makes this stealer particularly effective is that it continues to evolve to bypass security layers even as defenders are responding to the threat. On top of grabbing browser-stored passwords and cookies, it&rsquo;s also capable of extracting autofill data, email credentials, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) data, and two-factor authentication tokens and backup codes. Using its MaaS platform, its creators sold access to the malware on multiple underground markets and platforms like Telegram. </p>
<h2>What comes next?</h2>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p>This takedown is a major win for law enforcement and will help disrupt the initial access broker ecosystem in the near term. However, this is an ecosystem that has demonstrated its resilience again and again. The number of existing infostealer families, the open access to numerous source codes of previous infostealers, and the constant demand create a lucrative environment with very low barriers to entry. Given the resiliency of this market, other infostealer will likely quickly step in and fill in the gaps left after the Lumma takedown. </p>
<p>A similar pattern previously played out with other similar takedowns. On October 28, 2024, Operation Magnus disrupted the RedLine and META infostealers. RedLine was a significant stealer last year up until the takedown, after which Lumma grew in popularity and took over a portion of the market share previously held by RedLine. Redline infected 9.9 million hosts, or 43% of all infostealer infections observed by Flashpoint in 2024. The next four most-prolific infostealers in 2024, including RisePro, SteaC, Lumma Stealer, and Meta Stealer, infected a <a href="https://cyberscoop.com/infostealers-cybercrime-surged-2024-flashpoint/">combined 7 million hosts</a>. </p>
<p>We expect to see something similar following the Lumma Stealer takedown operation. The disruption effect following takedown is real, but there are still some new infections and logs for sale that were likely stolen before the infrastructure was taken down. Additionally, just because Lumma&rsquo;s infrastructure was dismantled, a lot of the data it stole likely continues to live on the dark web&mdash;thanks to the cybercriminal ecosystem that resells this information. <span>Additionally, <a href="https://blog.checkpoint.com/security/lumma-infostealer-down-but-not-out/">CheckPoint</a> reported Lumma&rsquo;s developers are already trying to rebuild and restart their operations, which may or may not be successful.&nbsp;</span>As SpyCloud&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thilligoss_lummatakedown-lummareallynowork-stealc-activity-7332888157480198146-u94p">Trevor Hilligoss shared</a>, daily new Lumma infections have trended downward following the takedown but not as much as expected. Continued monitoring will be necessary to determine the takedown&rsquo;s impact. </p>
<p>Long-standing groups such as Vidar and Stealc are good examples of this, but other newer families, such as Acreed, will also be well positioned to increase their market share. <span><a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/russian-market-emerges-as-a-go-to-shop-for-stolen-credentials/">ReliaQuests</a> already reported Acreed is rapidly gaining traction following the Lumma takedown. <a href="https://webz.io/dwp/acreed-infostealer-everything-we-know-so-far/">Over 4,000 logs</a> stolen by Acreed were reportedly uploaded to the Russian Market within its first week of operations.&nbsp;</span>Nexus has also gained some traction over the last week in Lumma&rsquo;s absence. Further, former affiliates and/or administrators associated with Lumma itself may split off to create their own offerings.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://cdn.lputil.com/-/media/ffef2d4ef9d544babc2169a6d0274059.jpg?h=310&amp;w=624" >&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Daily new LummaC2 infections (Source: Trevor Hilligoss)</em></p>
<h2>How to protect yourself against infostealers</h2>
<p>The threat from infostealers will remain very real for the foreseeable future and continue to adapt. Oftentimes, stealers are used in indiscriminate campaigns. Additionally, the sheer volume of data that has been dumped on the internet is immense. That means anyone is fair game and should take action to protect themselves following that assumption that they could be targeted. </p>
<ul>
    <li><strong>Use strong, unique passwords for every account.</strong> This will prevent credential stuffing attacks, which is a common tactic where threat actors insert stolen usernames and passwords. That way, if one password is exposed, it won&rsquo;t give access to all your other accounts where you reuse the same password. Also, consider using a password manager to securely and conveniently store them.</li>
    <li><strong>Enable MFA on your accounts.</strong> While this measure isn&rsquo;t failproof on its own, it adds an additional layer of defense and makes you a harder target.</li>
    <li><strong>Be on guard for phishing attempts.</strong> Infostealers often spread through phishing emails and malicious downloads. </li>
    <li><strong>Check HaveIBeenPwned to monitor potential exposure </strong>if you&rsquo;re worried you may have been infected by an infostealer. </li>
</ul>

What the Lumma stealer takedown means for the infostealer market and your personal data

Lumma Stealer, also known as LummaC2, dominated the expanding stealer market with significant campaigns since it emerged as early as late 2022

Dark Side of the Lumma: What the Lumma stealer takedown means for the infostealer market and your personal data

Passkey vs Password: Which is More Secure? | LastPass

Explore the differences between passkeys and passwords. Learn how LastPass enhances security and simplifies access with advanced authentication methods.

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