Shared Drives Are Convenient - and Dangerous
They start out simple. A shared folder for forms. A department drive for procedures. Before long, it's a maze of outdated documents, untracked edits, and over-permissioned users. If your bank or credit union still relies on shared drives, here are five risks you might be missing.
Which wire form is the right one? Did someone update the HR policy or just rename the file? Shared drives don't show who made what changes - or when. That's a big problem when auditors or FDIC/NCUA examiners come knocking.
2. Overexposed Access
In most shared drives, if someone's in the folder - they can see it all. No granular permissions. No read-only options. That means sensitive content might be accessible to staff who shouldn't see it.
3. No Acknowledgment Tracking
Even if the right file is in the right place, there's no way to prove staff read or acknowledged it. That's a liability when it comes to compliance, training, or procedural updates.
4. No Audit Trail
If someone deletes or modifies a document, there's often no record. No logs. No rollback. For regulated industries, that's a serious blind spot.
5. Staff Don't Trust What They See
Without clear ownership or timestamps, staff often ask around before using a document - or worse, just skip it. That slows down workflows and leads to inconsistent execution across branches.
The Intranet Fix
With SimplifyIT's secure intranet platform, you get:
It's time to leave shared drive chaos behind.
Shared drive security isn't just a productivity problem - it's a compliance issue too. Without encryption in transit and proper controls, banks and credit unions can face findings during audits. Adding SSL certificates to your intranet and adopting compliance-driven tools keeps data secure and your institution audit-ready.
Common Questions
Why are shared drives a security risk?
Shared drives often lack version control, audit trails, and granular permissions. This makes it hard to prove compliance, track edits, or secure sensitive files from unauthorized access.
Can shared drives cause audit findings?
Yes. Without audit trails or acknowledgment tracking, auditors may find gaps in compliance. Many banks and credit unions are moving to intranet platforms with built-in security and reporting.
How does SSL help secure my intranet?
SSL certificates encrypt data in transit, protecting login credentials and sensitive documents. It's also a key requirement for meeting compliance and audit-ready standards.
What's the best alternative to shared drives?
A secure intranet with version control, role-based permissions, and acknowledgment tracking reduces risk and improves document governance.
Want to See the Difference?
Book a short demo of SimplifyIT and see how secure intranet software changes the way you manage internal documents. Request a demo or watch a quick intranet overview.
|
Published August 29, 2025
Too many financial institutions only prepare for exams in bursts. Year-round compliance - powered by version control, acknowledgments, and audit trails - eliminates stress and builds trust.
Published August 25, 2025
During audits, examiners don't just look for policies - they look for proof of control. Learn how banks and credit unions use intranet tools like version control, audit trails, and acknowledgments to show real compliance.
Published August 22, 2025
Policy updates often fail because staff never see them, don't know what changed, or can't confirm receipt. Learn how banks and credit unions use intranet tools like acknowledgments, version control, and audit trails to make updates stick.
|
