Understanding Insider Threats: Protect Your Business

In today’s world, our lives and work depend a lot on technology. But, there’s a big threat from within – the insider threat. As someone who works for or is trusted by your company, you have access to important data and systems. This access can be a risk, leading to data breaches, financial loss, and damage to your company’s reputation¹.

This guide will cover insider threats, including their types, signs, and how to protect your business. By understanding these threats and acting early, you can help your company stay safe from cyber dangers¹.

Key Takeaways

• Insider threats are a big risk for businesses, coming from within and affecting sensitive data and assets.
• These threats can be accidental, intentional, or from insiders who have been compromised, each with its own set of challenges.
• Signs of insider threats include strange access patterns, more data being moved, changes in how employees act, and using unauthorized devices or storage.
• To manage insider threats well, you need a full plan. This includes sorting data, controlling access, training on security, watching user activities, and using tools to detect threats.
• Acting early on insider threats can lessen the harm from data breaches, financial fraud, identity theft, damage to reputation, and legal issues.

What is an Insider Threat?

Insider threats are a big risk for companies. They come from people inside the company, like employees or partners, who have access to important info and systems. These threats can be careless or even done on purpose. Knowing the different types is key to stopping them².

Types of Insider Threats

There are three main kinds of insider threats:

1. Negligent Insiders: These are people who don’t mean to hurt the company but accidentally do. This can happen by leaving devices alone, falling for phishing scams, or handling sensitive info wrong².
2. Malicious Insiders: These are people who use their access to steal data, commit fraud, or harm the company on purpose. They might be unhappy employees or partners looking for personal benefits or revenge².
3. Third-Party Insiders: These are people from outside the company, like vendors, who have been given access to the company’s systems and data. They can break security by misusing their access or having bad intentions, using the trust given to them².

Signs of an Insider Threat

It’s important to spot signs of an insider threat early. Some common signs include:

• Trying to get around security or see data not part of their job²
• Doing things that seem odd, like working late or looking at sensitive info outside work hours²
• Acting unhappy or causing trouble with coworkers or the company²
• Breaking company rules or how things are done²
• Moving a lot of sensitive data to places it shouldn’t go²

By watching for these signs and acting early, companies can protect themselves from insider threats².

“Insider threats can be the most difficult to detect and defend against, as they come from within the trusted circle of an organization.”

Negligent Insider Threats

Negligent insider threats happen often, usually because employees don’t know much about cybersecurity. Insider threats have grown by 44% in the last two years³. The average cost of these incidents is now $15.38 million³. These threats can come from simple mistakes, like clicking on a bad link or leaving a device unattended.

These threats often come from employee negligence or insider threat due to lack of knowledge. About 60% of cybersecurity attacks are from insiders with access to secret info⁴. Personal issues, wanting revenge, and sharing too much info can lead to these threats³. Workers might also bring in risks by using unauthorized devices or apps in the network⁴.

To fight these threats³, companies need to give their workers good security training. They should also have strong controls on who can access things and watch how users act⁴. By fixing the reasons behind negligence and teaching employees to be careful, companies can lower the chance of data breaches and security issues.

Remember, negligent insider threats can be very harmful. But with the right steps and teaching employees, companies can keep their important info and assets safe³⁴.

Malicious Insider Threats

Malicious insiders, or “turncloaks,” aim to steal data for money or personal reasons⁵. They use their access to do bad things, like taking secrets or harming the company⁵. On the other hand, imposter insiders are outsiders who pretend to be insiders to get into the company’s systems and data⁵.

Turncloak Insiders

Turncloak insiders are people who work for a company but don’t trust it anymore⁵. They might want money, revenge, or something else⁵. Because they know a lot about the company, they’re a big risk⁵.

Imposter Insiders

Imposter insiders are people outside the company who get real user names and passwords⁵. They use these to get into the company’s systems⁵. They can look like regular employees, making them hard to spot⁵.

It’s tough to catch insiders who do harm, and they can get past usual security⁵. But, new tech like machine learning can help find and stop them⁵.

Teaching employees about security and how to spot danger is also key⁵. By knowing what to look for, employees can help keep the company safe⁵.

Third-Party Insider Threats

Businesses often overlook the threat from third-party vendors, contractors, and partners. These third-party insider threats can be a big risk. They have access to sensitive data and systems that could be misused.

Recent studies show that insider threats are common⁶. Employee or contractor mistakes cause 56% of these issues, costing about $6.6 million a year⁷. In fact, 25% of security issues come from insiders, and 30% of companies have faced such threats. Half of these incidents accidentally reveal private info, while 40% involve stolen employee data.

Concerns about contractor security risk and vendor security are growing. These third parties can access your network, systems, and data⁷. Last year, 69% of companies faced threats to their data, and 32% saw their confidential records stolen or compromised.

To fight third-party insider threats, you need a strong plan. This includes good vendor management, strict access rules, and watching what third parties do. By acting early, you can shield your business from the harm of a third-party breach.

Insider Threat Prevention Tips

To protect your business from insider threats, you need a strong security plan. This plan should include user behavior monitoring, account management, and security policy enforcement. These steps can greatly lower the risk of insiders harming your organization⁸.

Monitor User Behavior and Manage Accounts

It’s key to watch user actions closely to spot odd behavior that might mean data theft or misuse⁸. Managing employee accounts well, by giving them only what they need, can also help stop damage from insiders⁸.

Enforce Security Policies

Having a strong security policy is vital. It should have rules to stop and find bad actions. Make sure it covers how to keep personal data safe and secure employee devices. This way, your company can catch and handle insider threats⁸.

Insider Threat Prevention Measure	Effectiveness
Clear and Concise Security Policy Communication	less likely to fall victim to insider threats8
Regular Security Awareness Training	reduction in insider threat incidents due to negligence8
Thorough Background Checks	fewer insider threat incidents compared to skipping this step8
Least Privilege Access Implementation	fewer insider threat incidents8
Robust Monitoring and Analytics	more insider threats detected compared to lack of monitoring8
Strong Authentication Measures	decrease in successful insider threat incidents related to unauthorized access8
Anonymous Reporting Channels	increase in the likelihood of detecting insider threats8
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions	reduction in the risk of insider threats causing data breaches8
Real-time User Activity Monitoring	faster detection of insider threats8
Automated Monitoring and Reporting Tools	improvement in compliance with industry regulations8

Using these strategies can make your organization stronger against insider threats. This can greatly lower the chance of being hurt by insiders⁸.

“Insider threats can cause significant harm through data theft, fraud, sabotage, or unintentional actions. Implementing a comprehensive security strategy is crucial to mitigate these risks.” –⁹

Provide Security Awareness Training

It’s key to make sure your team knows how to spot and stop insider threats. These threats make up about 30% of all security breaches¹⁰. But, with good security awareness training, your team can protect your organization from these threats.

Mimecast offers training that uses videos and takes just five minutes a month¹⁰. Adding humor to learning helps people remember things better¹⁰. The training covers important topics like passwords, spotting phishing, and safe social media use.

Mimecast’s program checks how well the training works and spots weak spots in your security¹⁰. It uses tests, surveys, and checks to see if people are learning and caring more about security¹⁰. This way, you can focus on the employees who need the most help.

¹¹ For companies that follow HIPAA, NIST, and other rules, training on insider threats is a must¹¹. This training helps employees understand threats, their signs, and the risks. It aims to change how employees act towards cybersecurity¹¹. Making training a safe space for open talks helps build a strong security culture¹¹.

¹¹ After training, simulating an insider attack can show how employees react in real situations¹¹. Regular training keeps employees sharp and informed about new threats¹¹.

Training Approach	Resources Required	Training Aim
Instructor-led	Instructor, Training Materials	Comprehensive Training
Software-based	Training Software, IT Support	Scalable and Automated
Documentation-based	Written Materials, Self-Study	Cost-Effective, Self-Paced

¹¹ The 2020 Cost of Insider Threats Report shows that 63% of threats come from mistakes by employees or contractors¹¹. Good insider threat training should be engaging and relevant to really help employees change their ways for the better¹¹.

Conduct Proactive Network Monitoring

It’s key to watch over your network, both on-premises and in the cloud, to spot and act on insider threats¹². Keeping an eye on things all the time lets you catch urgent events fast. It also makes you more aware of what employees do and catches attempts to access things they shouldn’t during off-hours¹². This is vital because insider threats can be tricky to spot and might slip past usual security steps.

Smart companies use tools and tech to find insider threats¹². Tools like User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) give you real-time info on how people act¹². Watching user actions all day helps spot odd behavior, which is key for those with special access who could be a big risk¹².

Looking back at past events and keeping up with new threats is crucial for staying ahead¹³. The Security Operations Center (SOC) keeps playbooks and runs drills to spot and tackle insider threats¹³. This way of watching things helps stop insider threats before they can cause harm¹³.

Key Practices for Proactive Network Monitoring	Benefits
Continuous monitoring of on-premises and cloud environments Leveraging User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) 24/7 monitoring of user behavior and privileged user activities Forensic analysis, threat research, and adherence to industry standards Maintaining SOC playbooks and incident response exercises	Rapid detection and response to insider threat events Increased visibility into employee actions and potential risks Ability to predict and prevent insider threats before damage occurs Compliance with security best practices and industry regulations Proactive, comprehensive protection against internal and external threats

By using these proactive methods, companies can boost their security and fight off insider threats better¹²¹³.

Insider Threat Management Controls

To handle insider threats well, companies need strong security steps. These steps cover risk checking, making rules, training, watching, and reacting¹⁴. By tackling these areas early, companies can lessen the chance of insider issues. These issues can hurt their money, image, follow rules, and work flow¹⁴.

Account Management

Managing accounts right is key to fighting insider threats. It means quickly taking away accounts from ex-employees and watching what current ones do to stop misuse¹⁴. Tools like Pathlock help by giving only the needed access and cutting down on risks¹⁵.

Least Privilege Access

It’s important that workers only see and touch the data and systems they need for their jobs. Using role-based access controls (RBAC) and checking user rights often can help stop insider threats¹⁴. Pathlock’s smart risk scoring shows how risky a user is across all systems, helping companies make smart access choices¹⁵.

Data Loss Prevention

Data loss prevention (DLP) tools are key in fighting insider threats. They sort, protect, and watch sensitive data to stop unauthorized access, sharing, or taking¹⁴. By using data together, looking at logs, and focusing on cybersecurity, companies like Novaland can find and deal with threats quicker¹⁶.

Using these controls with other security steps, like physical security, training workers, and full monitoring, makes a strong defense against insider threats¹⁴.

Insider Threat Detection

To spot insider threats, you need to know what normal user behavior looks like. You also need to know what actions are out of the ordinary. Using advanced tools like user behavior analytics (UBA), log management, and SIEM systems helps a lot. These tools give you insights and help you tackle insider threats early¹⁷.

User Behavior Analytics

User behavior analytics (UBA) is a key tool. It looks at how users act and what patterns they follow. It checks things like file access, data transfers, and login attempts to see what’s normal. If something doesn’t fit the usual pattern, it alerts your team to check it out¹⁷.

Log Management and SIEM

Log management and SIEM tools are crucial for finding insider threats. They gather data from many sources like networks, apps, and user actions. By looking at this data, SIEM tools spot strange patterns, like accessing sensitive info without permission. This helps your team quickly find and look into insider threats¹⁷.

Insider Threat Detection Capabilities	User Behavior Analytics	Log Management and SIEM
Baseline User Behavior	✓	✓
Anomaly Detection	✓	✓
Event Correlation and Alerting	✓	✓
Comprehensive Logging and Reporting		✓

Using user behavior analytics, log management, and SIEM together makes a strong plan for finding insider threats. This helps you spot, check out, and stop security risks from insiders¹⁷¹⁸.

Physical Security Measures

Insider threats can come from people getting too close to your business’s important stuff. It’s key to have strong physical security to stop these risks. This means limiting who can get into key areas, using two-factor authentication, and getting rid of old tech and papers the right way¹⁹.

Using advanced systems like biometric checks and cameras is now a must for keeping places safe¹⁹. These tools don’t just stop unauthorized people but also watch over things in real-time and send alerts automatically¹⁹.

Having a strong outer layer of security that mixes walls with tech helps fight off threats from outside¹⁹. Also, using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) makes places less inviting for crime¹⁹.

Having trained guards is crucial for keeping things secure. They can scare off threats and act fast when needed¹⁹. By mixing people, systems, and tech, companies can make a strong security plan to protect against insider dangers¹⁹.

As insider threats keep changing, having a full plan for physical and online security is key to keeping your business safe²⁰. Using the latest tech, setting up strong access rules, and making a culture that values security can make your company stronger against threats from inside and out²⁰.

Using open-source intelligence (OSINT) is now a big help for keeping an eye on online talk and improving physical security²¹. By looking at what people say online, companies can spot and deal with threats, including those from unhappy employees²¹.

In today’s fast-changing security world, being proactive and putting together a strong plan for physical security is key to fighting off insider threats. By using new tech, setting up strong access rules, and encouraging a culture that cares about security, you can make a strong defense against threats from both outside and inside¹⁹²⁰²¹.

Physical Security Measure	Description
Access Controls	Limiting access to critical infrastructure and using two-factor authentication for entry.
Surveillance Systems	Integrating features like facial recognition, motion detection, and automated alerts.
Perimeter Security	Combining physical barriers with electronic measures for enhanced protection.
Security Personnel	Deterring threats and responding to incidents in real-time.
Data Destruction	Properly disposing of old hardware and documents to prevent information leakage.

With a full plan for physical security, companies can beat the risks of insider threats and keep their important stuff safe¹⁹²⁰²¹.

Insider threat

In today’s cybersecurity world, insider threats are a big challenge for businesses. These threats come from inside the company and use normal access to get to sensitive data and systems. Learning about the different types of insider threats and taking steps to stop them are key to protecting your business.

Insider threats can be many things, like people who want to harm the company or those who accidentally share sensitive info. Some insiders work with others outside the company, while others act alone with a lot of access.² There are also careless insiders who make mistakes or act without meaning to break security rules.

But it’s not just about bad intentions. There are also risks from outsiders who pretend to be part of the team. These outsiders might be posing as vendors or employees to get access they shouldn’t have.² It’s important to watch for signs that someone might be a threat from within.

Signs include feeling unhappy, trying to bypass security, working late, not getting along with coworkers, breaking rules, or talking about leaving or new jobs.² Other signs are unusual login times, a lot of network activity, accessing things without permission, looking at data they shouldn’t, asking for too many system resources, or using unauthorized devices.²

Insider Threat Indicator	Description
Behavioral Indicators	Dissatisfaction, circumventing security, off-hours work, resentment toward colleagues, policy violations, discussions about leaving or new opportunities
Digital Indicators	Atypical login times, spikes in network traffic, unauthorized accesses, unnecessary data retrievals, system resource requests, usage of unauthorized devices like USB drives

To fight insider threats, businesses need to be proactive. They can prevent attacks by knowing what’s important, setting up normal behavior standards, watching closely with tools, following strict security rules, and teaching everyone about security.² Tools to find insider threats are key because they catch things that regular security steps might miss.²

Understanding the complex nature of insider threats and having a strong plan to deal with them can help protect against these big security risks. Insider attacks that were meant to be harmful cost about USD 4.90 million on average, which is 9.5% more than usual.²²

These attacks have exposed over 1 billion records, which is more than the usual number of records lost to outside threats.²² With careful planning and watchfulness, companies can lessen the damage from insider threats and keep their important data safe.

The Toll of Insider Threats

Most insider threats, 56%, were caused by careless insiders, says the 2022 Ponemon Cost of Insider Threats Global Report.²² Fixing the damage from insider threats costs an average of USD 804,997.²² It takes an average of 85 days for security teams to find and stop insider threats, and some go unnoticed for years.²² Training employees can lower the average cost of a breach by USD 232,867 or 5.2%.²²

About 25% of all security issues come from insiders,⁷ and 69% of companies have faced threats or data corruption in the past year.⁷ One-third of all companies have had an insider threat incident.⁷ Half of incidents were unintentional, 40% involved employee records, 33% customer records, and 32% trade secrets or intellectual property.⁷

“Insider threats pose a significant challenge for businesses of all sizes, as they can originate from within the organization and exploit legitimate access to sensitive data and systems.”

By tackling the complex nature of insider threats, companies can improve their cybersecurity and protect against the harm of an insider attack²²²⁷.

Conclusion

Protecting your business from insider threats means doing many things at once. This includes teaching employees, having strong security rules, using top-notch monitoring tools, and keeping things physically safe²³. Most of the time, Insider Threat Programs stop problems before they get worse, like when Mark Steven Domingo was caught²³. Teams with experts from different fields are key in stopping, preventing, finding, and fixing insider threats²³.

Some industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense face more insider threats²⁴. Healthcare sees the most insider attacks, and finance spends the most on dealing with these threats²⁴. Big companies in North America often face more insider threats too²⁴.

Big cases like those at Proofpoint, Coca-Cola, Tesla, Twitter, Cisco, and Target show how important it is to watch employees closely, control data well, use secure cloud services, and check vendors carefully²⁵. By doing these things, companies can really lower their risks and protect their important stuff²⁵.

FAQ

What is an insider threat?

An insider threat is a risk that comes from within an organization. It can be from current or past employees, business partners, or contractors. They have access to important information in the company’s systems.

What are the main types of insider threats?

There are three main types of insider threats. First, Negligent Insiders are those who don’t mean to risk the organization but act carelessly. Second, Malicious Insiders, or Turncoats, intentionally steal or misuse data for personal or financial reasons. Third, Third-Party Insiders are outsiders given access who might misuse or harm the organization’s security.

What are the signs of an insider threat?

Insider threats show through actions like bypassing security, acting strangely, or breaking rules. Other signs include downloading lots of sensitive data, using unauthorized devices, and keeping too much data to themselves.

How do you prevent and detect negligent insider threats?

To stop and catch careless insider threats, teach employees about cybersecurity and the need to follow rules. Make sure they know how to spot phishing emails and other scams.

How do you protect against malicious insider threats?

To fight against harmful insider threats, use strong account management and limit what users can do. Use data protection tools and watch for suspicious actions. Keep an eye on how users behave to catch any odd behavior.

How do you mitigate the risks of third-party insider threats?

To lower the risks from outsiders working with your company, control what they can do and see. Make sure they only need to see what’s necessary. Check on them regularly to make sure they’re not a threat.

What physical security measures can help prevent insider threats?

To stop insider threats, limit who can get into important areas. Use extra checks to get in, and get rid of old tech and papers safely. This helps keep data safe from being stolen.

How can advanced technologies help detect and respond to insider threats?

New tech like tracking how users act, managing logs, and using SIEM systems can spot insider threats. They help understand what users do, link events together, and warn the security team. Watching the network closely helps catch and deal with threats fast.