Jan 2020
What Is an Insider Threat?
Most security plans are designed to protect against outside threats, but there are insider threats can be just as dangerous and even more unexpected. Within any organization, it’s vital to be aware of inside threats to a company’s data, finances and personal security. Those who have access to a company’s assets wield incredible power, and a disgruntled employee or someone with malicious intent can cause horrific damage to an organization and its clients.
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What Is an Insider Threat?
Any person who seeks to harm a company and has access to its resources is an insider threat. Insiders could be those who have been employed with the company for years, or it could be someone who was outsourced and only had access for a few weeks. Third-parties can pose just as great of a risk as internal employees, and they can be even harder to stop and track down if they wage a cyberattack against a corporation.
IBM reports that as much as 60 percent of company cyber attacks are committed by inside attackers. Learning how to identify a potential threat as well as installing appropriate security measures are the best lines of defense.
Insider Threat Indicators
Once you’ve asked, “What is an insider threat?”, you have to learn how to spot them. Many cases of insider-led attacks are so unexpected that most companies are unaware of the damage until there are catastrophic consequences. In addition to major potential losses, insider threats also pose massive liability risks if they are accessing confidential information.
Below are some of the most common insider threat indicators.
Accessing Company Data Off-Hours
If an employee or contractor is given security clearance, they should only use their access during approved work hours. If you notice that an employee has been logging into a system or database after their shift or even when they’re off-site, this could be a red flag that they’re abusing their power.
Using Access for Ulterior Motives
When people are granted access to a corporation’s resources, they are responsible for upholding security protocol. A large part of this relies on only using access to perform designated tasks; any employees or third-parties who use their access to view information that is not related to their job description should be closely monitored.
Changes in Attitude
Most inside attackers are considered to be highly disgruntled employees seeking some type of retribution; while these types of employees are certainly a risk, you should also be aware of the exact opposite. Employees who suddenly display an unnatural level of interest in their work and offer to work off-hours and beyond their scope of general duties could be trying to gather sensitive information.
Types of Insider Threats
Not every insider turns against a company for the same reason. In fact, even employees who work in the same department could have drastically different reasons for abusing their access to secure information. The type of attacker you encounter will influence what type of countermeasures you have to take; learning about the types of insider threats early on can also help you install better preventative security.
Pawns
Pawns are employees who unknowingly fall victim to a cyberattack. For example, a worker might disclose sensitive information to a contractor who is working on their computer and request details, or they could unintentionally install malware that compromises an entire corporation’s security.
Goof
A goof does not act with any desire to harm a company, but their irresponsibility and recklessness can result in millions of dollars in damages. Whether they decide to access the company’s cloud storage for personal use or attempt to bypass security protocol as a personal challenge, goofs are the court jesters of inside cyberattacks.
Collaborators
These types of insiders work with outside organizations; they may conduct corporate espionage or steal information to advance their own careers. They are more interested in self-aggrandizing than harming others, but they are not generally concerned about the welfare of anyone who may be damaged by their actions.
Lone Wolf
Lone wolf inside threats tend to be high-ranking employees with top-level security clearance. They may spend months or even years hoarding information and funneling confidential data out of a corporation, and when they finally strike, the results are devastating.
How to Protect Your Company Against Inside Threats
Preventative measures are the best way to stop an insider before they can strike; Silent Guardian Security offers TSCM services that can include eavesdropping and IMSI catcher detection, surveillance and bug sweeps, as well as video surveillance and access control systems. Contact Silent Guardian today to learn more about your options.