Insider Threats: What Is It & Best Practices

Insider threats refer to the risks posed to an organization's security by its own employees or insiders. These insiders could be employees, contractors, or anyone else who has access to the organization's sensitive data and information. While not all insiders have malicious intent, they can still inadvertently or deliberately cause damage to an organization's data and systems.

These threats can take many forms, including theft of intellectual property, deliberate data breaches, sabotage, and unintentional data leaks. In fact, it has been found that insider threats account for more than 34% of all cybersecurity incidents, and that 74% of organisations are at least moderately vulnerable to insider threats. 

Insider threats are a complex and multifaceted problem, requiring a comprehensive approach to address them effectively. The best practices for mitigating insider threats involve a combination of technological and organizational measures.

​So, what are the best practices for preventing insider threats?

Here are some strategies that organizations can use to protect themselves:

1. ​Implement strict access controls: Organizations should have strict access controls in place to ensure that employees only have access to the information they need to perform their jobs. Access should be granted on a need-to-know basis, and sensitive data should be restricted to only those who require it. Access control measures can be implemented through the use of role-based access control, multi-factor authentication, and encryption.
2. Conduct regular security awareness training: All employees should be trained on the importance of data security and best practices for protecting sensitive data. This should include training on how to identify and report suspicious activity.
3. Monitor network activity: Organizations should monitor network activity to detect any abnormal behavior that could indicate an insider threat. This includes monitoring for unusual login attempts, unauthorized access to sensitive data, and data transfers to external devices. This can be achieved through the use of security information and event management (SIEM) systems, which can detect and alert on suspicious activities.
4. Have clear security policies and procedures: Organizations should have clear policies and procedures in place for handling sensitive data, including protocols for data access, data storage, and data disposal. Employees should be aware of these policies and procedures and understand the consequences of violating them.
5. Have incident response plans that are regularly tested and updated: These plans should include procedures for detecting, investigating, and responding to insider threats, as well as guidelines for reporting incidents to the appropriate authorities.
6. Establish a culture of security. This includes providing regular training to employees on how to recognize and prevent insider threats. Employees should be made aware of the risks posed by insider threats and the consequences of engaging in malicious activities.
7. Conduct background checks: Before hiring new employees, organizations should conduct thorough background checks to ensure that they have a clean history and do not pose a risk to the organization's security.

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Takeaway

​In conclusion, insider threats are a growing concern for organizations, and it is important to take proactive measures to protect against them. As the risks they pose must not be ignored. By implementing the best practices outlined above, organizations can reduce their risk of insider threats and protect their sensitive data and systems. This is essential as organizations need to take a comprehensive approach to insider threat mitigation, and to continually adapt their strategies to address evolving threats. 


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