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In the past half-a-Century, we’ve completely changed our society’s work model. No longer are pen-and-paper and large file cabinets filled with folders the norm. Technology has completely flipped the way we do things like communicate and store data. Technology has made things immeasurably more efficient and easy to use as well. The downside of technology, however, is that some threats and risks need to be taken into account very seriously. Threats to technological devices and data storage are classified as external and internal threats. The latter is lesser known by most people (and certainly less popular).
The fact is most people haven’t heard of insider threats or even know what a ‘threat’ might mean in this context. Well, this is an information technology (IT) and network security-related environment that we’re talking about, to put it precisely. Otherwise known as cybersecurity, insider threats are a staple often discussed in this field and one that legitimately poses a threat to all organizations, businesses, and institutions worldwide. Threats are everywhere, whether external or internal (or a combination of both) when it comes to the world of digital devices and digital information.
Insider threats can affect business, organization, and institutional environments in drastic ways. Insider threats can also affect the business environment in other ways that are not purely electronic. If you run a company, any legitimate security specialist will have to look at your risk management and assess insider threats. Even if you do not run your company or are not part of management somewhere, it is always good to find out what insider threats can do to an organization of any type. After all, a simply overlooked insider threat can be the downfall of an enterprise and all of its staff.
What Are Insider Threats?
Insider threats are threats to an organization, institution, or business that originate from the inside. By contrast, an external threat is a threat that comes from outside the organization, such as a cyber attack. A good example of an insider threat is conscious or unconscious damage to a company caused by an inside member of staff. Insider threats can be categorized into; malicious, negligent, and accidental insider threats. To be more precise, some insider threat scenario examples are as follows;
- A disgruntled employee looking to damage a company’s system on purpose
- An employee with a grudge that is looking to damage the finances or reputation of a company or its organs/management/other staff
- Negligent employees that cause data loss such as losing a USB drive, or engage in risky behavior such as not adhering to cybersecurity practices or IT policies
- Accidental employee behavior such as unaware or untrained employees which can result in system breaches due to weak passwords. Accidental behavior can often be linked to mistakes in the company’s organizational ability and interior decisions
Adding to that, here are some indicators of a potential insider threat;
- Dissatisfied employees
- Angry employees
- Employees engaging in out-of-pattern behavior
- Malicious employees with ulterior motives
Statistically, cybersecurity is still not something of value to most companies. A large portion of global companies has not combed through their organizations enough for all potential insider threats (even external ones). Insider threats have caused millions of dollars in losses. It takes a long time to recoup losses and reboot after an incident caused by such a threat. Another important bit of statistical information is that insider threats are responsible for at least 20% of security incidents according to a 2021 Data Breach Investigation Report by Verizon.
It is very important that any enterprise manages its insider threats well, which means having awareness of the subject and controlling and monitoring staff for this purpose. Another study by Kaspersky showed that over 50% of 5,000 global enterprises were concerned about threats that lay within their workforce.
How to Approach Insider Threats
Now, let’s say that you are in management or own a business. How exactly should you approach and prepare for insider threat scenarios? First of all, it is important to take a meticulous and layered approach, always having the defense in mind as well as assuming the worst. That would be a good starting point for you. Furthermore, here are some in-depth tips;
- Protect your critical business systems and assets with cybersecurity software, access control, policies, and external cybersecurity providers
- When it comes to policies, ensure that management is enforcing the latest standards and strict IT policies commensurate with the environment
- The human factor, namely employee training, education, and motivation is critical for any business. Promoting a positive approach to work (and employee satisfaction) while sticking to strict training and education standards will go a long way in preventing insider threats. Finally, the workforce should be monitored and tracked realistically and ethically
At the end of the day, we are all humans, disgruntled or not. Malicious people are out there, and some wait for years to bring others down. Negligence and accidental mistakes are also a staple of business environments and one where we can ask technology to assist us as much as possible. The most common insider threats include facets such as; password sharing mistakes, phishing link scams, improper sharing, and storage of data, and email leaks.
Here are some final general tips to top off your organization’s cybersecurity and ensure that not only internal threats are at bay, but external threats too;
- Utilizing multi-factor authentication wherever possible (on personal devices as well)
- Using security awareness training monthly, particularly for password awareness
- Taking care not to misconfigure storage buckets where business data is stored
- Using cybersecurity software and hardware such as software and hardware VPNS, high0 security routers, firewalls wherever applicable
Finally, remember that, above all, common sense is always king. No amount of preparation and tools will help if common sense is nowhere to be found. A company and its staff should not be disconnected from each other in such a way that business processes cannot be applied or monitored. As for vulnerable entry points, remember that the tiniest leak in the digital world can open a world of opportunities. Ideally, you want to have both internal and external threats addressed to the fullest (depending on your resources) to have peace of mind in your business environment.
