The Human Factor in Cybersecurity in Poland: Managing Risk Through Screening
Why cybersecurity is more than just technology
Many Polish organisations invest heavily in firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection systems, and other advanced technical safeguards. Yet — as global and local data shows — technology alone cannot prevent all risks. A significant share of security incidents result from human errors, negligence, or malicious insider actions. For companies and institutions in Poland, that reality requires a strong focus on Human Risk Management and systematic screening of personnel.
Polish examples: when human factor leads to real consequences
Recent incidents in Poland illustrate the risks:
- A major data leak exposed millions of login credentials and personal data of Polish citizens, affecting public-sector users and private individuals. The government launched a verification service to help people check whether their information was compromised.
- A former employee of a public-service organisation retained access credentials after leaving the company, enabling unauthorised access to sensitive databases, including PESEL numbers and health data.
- A large healthcare provider experienced a ransomware attack, exposing personal data of thousands of patients and staff, partly due to insufficient risk analysis and uncontrolled access rights.
These cases show a common pattern: breaches often occur because people with privileged access were not properly vetted, monitored, or managed, not because technology failed.
Background Checks Poland: a critical layer of defense
In many European countries, candidate screening is standard, yet in Poland, systematic Background Checks remain underutilised — particularly for sensitive positions. For organisations handling personal data, critical infrastructure, or regulated services, background checks reduce human risk significantly.
Background Checks can include:
- Identity and employment verification
- Education and credentials validation
- Legally justified criminal-background screening
- Reference and reputational checks
- Screening against sanctions lists and watchlists
Screening is not about distrust — it is informed, risk-based decision-making. Combined with proper access management, it greatly lowers the risk of insider threat, fraud, or negligent use of privileges.
NIS2 and ISMS integration: compliance meets resilience
With NIS2 coming into force across EU member states, including Poland, organisations managing critical infrastructure, digital services, finance, health, or public administration face stricter cybersecurity obligations. These include risk assessments, incident reporting, access control, strong authentication, business continuity planning, and more.
Integrating Human Risk Management and employee screening into an ISMS (ISO 27001-certified) ensures that both technical and human risks are systematically addressed. Onboarding, offboarding, access rights, monitoring, and incident response become integrated, reducing the likelihood of human-driven breaches.
How Validato helps Polish organisations
Validato provides a secure, ISO 27001-certified platform for automated and compliant Background Checks in Poland. Organisations using Validato can:
- Standardise and automate screening workflows
- Ensure consistent vetting of employees, contractors, and suppliers
- Strengthen Human Risk Management and compliance with NIS2 and data protection laws
- Reduce insider threat risk
- Maintain audit trails and documentation for regulatory purposes
With Validato, screening becomes a core part of cybersecurity, not just an HR formality.
Cybersecurity starts with people
For Polish organisations, cybersecurity cannot rely solely on technology. Data leaks, unauthorised access, and ransomware incidents show how quickly human-related vulnerabilities can cause severe damage. By combining Background Checks, Human Risk Management, and integrating them into an ISMS / ISO 27001 framework, especially under the new NIS2 obligations, companies can build a robust, compliant, and resilient security posture.