How can I prevent insider threats?

An insider threat is a security risk that originates from within an organization. It involves someone with authorized access to the organization's systems, data, or networks who uses that access to harm the organization, either intentionally or unintentionally. The term insider threat seems nefarious on the surface, but many security incidents involving insider threats are caused unintentionally—usually through a compromised email or careless storage of passwords.

Types of Insider Threats:

• Malicious Employee: An employee who intentionally misuses their access to steal data, sabotage systems, or perform other harmful activities.
• Negligent Employee: An employee who inadvertently causes harm through careless behavior. Negligence looks like falling for phishing attacks despite repeated training on how to spot them, mishandling sensitive information, or failing to follow basic security policies.
• Compromised Employee: An employee or contractor whose account has been compromised by an external attacker, allowing the outsider to gain unauthorized access to all information normally accessible to that employee. This type of insider threat is unintentional, given that the employee is also a victim of cybercrime.

Potential Insider Threat Activities:

• Data theft: Stealing proprietary information, trade secrets, customer data, or intellectual property.
• Sabotage: Deliberate damage to systems, deleting files, or disrupting business operations.
• Fraud: Using insider knowledge to manipulate financial transactions or business processes for personal gain.
• Unauthorized access: Gaining access to confidential systems or information beyond the scope of the insider's role. 

Ways to prevent insider threats from impacting your business: 

1. Implement Strong Access Controls

Implement strong password requirements (14-16 characters). Ensure employees only have access to the data necessary for their role. Review and update permissions annually.

2. Monitor Employee Behavior (… within reason)

If you suspect an employee is capable of nefarious behavior, utilize user activity monitoring tools to detect it. Nefarious behavior may include downloading large amounts of data, accessing files outside of work hours, or noticing changes in email volume to external contacts. Like those baked into MS365, behavioral analytics can help spot suspicious behavior early.

3. Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Require multiple verification methods. MFA, fingerprint, or Microsoft "Hello" and SSO using third-party authentication services such as DUO reduce the risk of compromised credentials being used for malicious purposes.

4. Regular Security Training

Provide annual cybersecurity training that covers recognizing social engineering, phishing, and other malicious activities. Platforms such as KnowBe4 can be used to mitigate risk through awareness training.  

5. Publish Clear Acceptable Use and IT Security Policies

Implement and communicate clear policies regarding data access, security practices, and the consequences of violating those policies. IT Security policies should be stressed during the onboarding process to ensure employees are clear on security best practices, password storage, acceptable data sharing, and device security.  

7. Encrypt Data At Rest 

Using Bitlocker on employee PCs can reduce the risk of data being accessed if PCs are lost or stolen. Employees who travel are most at risk for PC theft or account compromise when connecting to airport networks or unknown hotspots.  Encryption or data, at rest and in transit, can help mitigate the risk of data compromise when traveling. 

8. Conduct Regular Audits and Logging

Turn on all employee audit logging capabilities, especially for employees with access to sensitive data. MS365 and Google both have employee access and behavior logging capabilities and offer robust reporting of employee behavior. Some platforms also provide AI Alerting to unusual or suspicious behavior based on log reports. 

9. Create an Insider Threat Response Plan

Develop a comprehensive insider threat response plan that outlines how to detect, respond to, and recover from insider incidents. Include communication protocols, reporting procedures, and remediation actions.

10. Foster a Positive Work Environment

Disgruntled employees are more likely to become insider threats. Promote a healthy organizational culture where employees feel valued and can communicate openly, potentially reducing the risk of malicious insider activity.