Vadim Burtsev: Digital Secrets Are an Asset Like Finance or Intellectual Property and Must Be Protected Accordingly

“Record leaks of passwords and tokens in 2024 are an alarming signal for businesses that still rely on outdated methods of storing digital secrets. The problem lies not only in technical vulnerabilities, but also in the human factor: employees use weak passwords, reuse them across different services, fall victim to phishing, or simply do not fully understand the risks.”

Vadim Burtsev, Information Security Architect at Tsikada JSC, gave an extended comment for CISOCLUB.

Why Has the Problem Become More Acute?

Analysis shows that companies still rely on unreliable methods: simple passwords, reuse of access credentials, and lack of control over tokens. At the same time, attackers actively use phishing and automated attacks, making outdated protection methods ineffective.

Internal vulnerabilities pose a particular risk: employees who are not trained in cyber hygiene and fragmented access management systems. As a result, companies face compromised corporate accounts, personal data leaks, and even disruptions in the work of entire departments.