Introduction
We bet that you’re a good, hardworking individual who doesn’t want to cause problems for your company. You wouldn’t intentionally leak important information that would compromise the organization in anyway!
Unfortunately, it happens all of the time. They’re called insider threats, and they don’t have to be intentional to do serious damage to the private data entrusted on your computer systems. In fact, if you’re not careful, you could be an insider threat to your organization — without even knowing it.
What Counts as an Insider Threat?
Insider threats can come from employees, contractors or even vendors who have access to confidential information and systems. They can use their privileged access to steal data, disrupt operations or cause other damage. Motivations run the gambit, from malicious intent to negligence to plain old accidents. Businesses must have the right security measures in place to mitigate these risks and protect their assets from malicious actors.
The best defense against insider threats is a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes robust authentication measures, regular monitoring of user activity and proactive risk assessment. With the right tools and processes in place, businesses can reduce their exposure to insider threats and protect their valuable resources from unauthorized access.
Insider threats are a major concern for businesses in the digital age. Robust, up-to-date, and continuously monitored cybersecurity is essential to protect against malicious insiders who have access to sensitive data and systems. With the right tools, businesses can detect and respond quickly and effectively.
Why Should You Be Concerned?
More than one-third of businesses are negatively impacted by insider threats every year. Remember, these can be on purpose or unintentional!
Some of the most common mistakes insiders make include…
- Sharing your password, or using a weak one
- Not enforcing privileged access controls
- Failure to use multi-factor authentication
- Downloading infected files or clicking malicious links
Conclusion
Insider threats are a major concern for businesses and organizations when it comes to cybersecurity. It’s type of threat is difficult to detect because the malicious actor may have legitimate access and be difficult to distinguish from other, benign users. Set measures in place that can detect and prevent these types of threats before they cause significant damage!
Over half of businesses have had an insider threat in just the past year. Familiarize yourself with the signs so you can report suspicious behavior, like if you notice someone accessing folders they shouldn’t or rummaging through a coworker’s desk, in a timely and efficient manner. That includes paying attention to your Security Awareness Training, and memorizing your company’s incident response plan so you know what and who to report to.
Insider threats are responsible for 60% of data breaches to companies like yours. YOU can help prevent your personal data, the company’s data, and all the PII of your clients from getting spread on the Dark Web.
Education is prevent! Reading this blog has been a great stride forward in your security awareness and cyber-threat preparedness.
References
