An insider threat refers to a security risk originating from individuals within an organization who have access to the organization's , data, and . These individuals can be employees, contractors, or other trusted personnel with legitimate access privileges. Insider threats can be classified into two main categories: and .
Malicious insiders intentionally misuse their authorized access to the organization's resources for purposes. Motivations may include financial gain, revenge, ideology, or a desire to the organization. On the other hand, negligent insiders do not have malicious intent but may unintentionally compromise security through careless actions or mistakes. This could involve actions like falling for attacks, failing to follow security policies, sharing , or leaving sensitive data exposed.
To mitigate insider threats, organizations can implement strict access controls and the principle of privilege to ensure that employees only have access to the resources they need to perform their job roles. Additionally, conducting security awareness training programs helps educate employees about the risks of insider threats and how to recognize and report activities. Employing monitoring systems and regular audits can detect and investigate unusual or unauthorized activities on the network.
Establishing anonymous reporting channels allows employees to report concerns about their colleagues' behavior without fear of . Moreover, implementing Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions can monitor and prevent the unauthorized sharing or of sensitive data.
