Insider Threats in Information Security
An insider threat in information security occurs when a current or former employee uses their authorized access to compromise a company’s network, data or devices. An insider can be someone with privileged access to an organization, such as an IT administrator, network engineer or a senior executive. They can also be a third-party contractor with elevated privileges, a developer or even a former employee who never had their access revoked. These insiders pose a greater threat to an organization than external bad actors because their malicious intent is already there: they have the ability to steal, manipulate or damage data in a manner that goes undetected by traditional cybersecurity tools.
Malicious insiders are typically motivated by a desire for revenge, financial gain or another personal motive. They can operate in teams or on their own and use their privileged access to commit fraud, intellectual property theft, sabotage and espionage. They can expose passwords, HR records, emails and other sensitive documents to unauthorized parties. Malicious insiders can also take advantage of system flaws to snoop on sensitive information, including their own company’s network.
Opportunistic insiders can exploit their privileged access to commit similar harm for the same reasons as malicious insiders. They might hoard sensitive information during their tenure to exploit it upon leaving, or they may act at an opportune moment to help a malicious actor. Lone wolves are a subset of this category, as they operate on their own and are able to take advantage of their proximity to critical systems like networks or databases.
What Are Insider Threats in Information Security?
Negligent insiders can cause unintentional harm by disregarding essential security protocols for shortcuts or to satisfy a craving for convenience. They can accidentally expose critical assets or download malware, lose a work device and then use it for their own purposes, or give up their remote work access to a family member without notifying the company.
It can be difficult to detect insider threats because users typically have legitimate access, so it’s hard for security controls to distinguish normal behavior from suspicious activity. However, there are several key technical indicators that can be used to monitor insider risk. These include unusual access times, a user logging in from an unfamiliar location, and changes to passwords and login patterns. By combining these technical indicators with behavior pattern analysis, a robust insider threat detection program can protect organizational information security from malicious and accidental harm.
It can also mitigate the impact of a breach that could otherwise damage the reputation of an organization, its customers and shareholders. The most effective way to reduce the risk of insider threats is by implementing a policy of least privilege, ensuring that employees, contractors and agency members have only the minimum set of system privileges needed to perform their duties. It’s also important to regularly review privileges, and to revoke them immediately after an employee’s role is terminated or they leave the company. This will prevent them from regaining access after leaving the company and committing further harm.