A generic or shared email account may be shared among many, but it’s a single point of failure. If an employee leaves without proper offboarding procedures—like immediately changing the shared password to all accounts it’s used for—there’s no way to ensure they no longer have access. This can lead to significant security breaches, especially if sensitive data, customer information, or internal business details are stored in or communicated via this account.

The absence of MFA makes these accounts especially vulnerable, as anyone with the password can access them without further verification. Furthermore, without an audit trail, there’s no way to track who logged in, when, or what changes were made. This lack of visibility poses serious risks if the account is compromised or used for malicious activity.

In the worst-case scenario, a former employee with ongoing access to a shared account could steal sensitive information, impersonate your business, or sabotage operations. Even if you’re careful with active employees, a single overlooked account can become a backdoor into your systems for months or even years.