FROM THE BLOG

Mitigating Insider Threats in Organizations

June 15, 2023

For many organizations, insider threats can cause serious damage to the company’s finances and operations, as well as damage to its reputation and customers’ trust. To mitigate these threats, organizations must implement comprehensive strategies and policies that cover personnel, physical, and virtual access of sensitive information and assets.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the causes of insider threats, discuss best practices for preventing them, and provide solutions for remediation. By understanding the risks and taking the necessary steps to protect your organization from the impacts of insider threats, you can maintain a safe and secure environment for your company’s operations and employees.

There are few threats more damaging to the security of organizations than the potential of insider threats. Organizations are increasingly vulnerable to insider threats as a result of the rapidly changing technology landscape and the growing reliance on cloud services. To help mitigate the risk of insider threats, organizations must take steps to identify and manage potential threats, and ensure that they have the knowledge and resources to effectively detect and respond to these threats.

The types of insider threats

Insider threats can range from malicious actors such as hackers or disgruntled employees to careless or careless misuse of information and IT resources.

Untrained Insiders

Untrained insiders are individuals who lack the necessary knowledge and skills to adhere to security policies and procedures. They may not have received proper training on handling sensitive information, recognizing security threats, or following secure practices. Their actions, although unintentional, can still lead to security incidents and vulnerabilities.

Negligent Insiders

Negligent insiders pose a threat due to their carelessness or lack of awareness regarding security protocols. They may accidentally disclose sensitive information, fall victim to social engineering attacks, or disregard security best practices. Negligent insiders are typically well-meaning employees who unintentionally cause security incidents.

Malicious Insiders

Malicious insiders are individuals who intentionally misuse their access privileges to harm the organization. They may have various motives, such as revenge, financial gain, or personal ideology. These insiders can engage in activities like stealing sensitive data, destroying critical systems, or leaking confidential information.

Compromised Insiders

Compromised insiders are individuals whose access credentials or systems have been compromised by external actors. Cybercriminals may target employees through phishing emails, malware, or other techniques to gain control over their accounts. Once compromised, these insiders can unknowingly facilitate unauthorized access or exfiltration of sensitive data.

Infiltrators

Infiltrators are individuals who deliberately join an organization with the intention of causing harm from within. They may apply for employment or contract positions to gain access to sensitive information, systems, or networks. Infiltrators can engage in espionage, sabotage, or other malicious activities, often motivated by external entities or competing organizations.

Using the right tools

Organizations should also ensure that they have the necessary tools and techniques in place to detect and respond to insider threats. This includes monitoring for suspicious behavior and employee activity, as well as implementing security measures to ensure that any potential breaches can be quickly addressed. Additionally, organizations should have an incident response plan in place to deal with any insider threat situation that may arise.

Traditional tools for mitigating insider threats

When it comes to dealing with insider threats, organizations can employ various security tools to enhance their defense mechanisms. These tools help in detecting, monitoring, and preventing unauthorized activities by insiders. Below are some of the traditional security tools for handling insider threats:

User Activity Monitoring (UAM) Systems: UAM systems track and record user activities within an organization’s network or systems. They capture information such as logins, file access, data transfers, and application usage. By monitoring user behavior, UAM systems can identify suspicious activities and potential insider threats.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions: DLP solutions help prevent the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data. They monitor data in motion, at rest, and in use, and apply policies to prevent data leakage or exfiltration. DLP tools can detect and block unauthorized attempts to transfer or share sensitive information.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) Systems: IAM systems manage user identities, access privileges, and authentication processes. These tools ensure that users have appropriate access rights based on their roles and responsibilities within the organization. IAM systems can also provide additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect against unauthorized access.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Solutions: SIEM solutions collect and analyze logs and events from various sources within an organization’s network. They provide real-time monitoring and correlation of security events, allowing organizations to identify potential insider threats by detecting unusual patterns or behaviors.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): IDPS tools monitor network traffic and detect potential threats, including insider attacks. They can identify suspicious activities, such as unauthorized access attempts, data exfiltration, or abnormal network behavior, and take immediate action to prevent or mitigate the impact of such incidents.
Privileged Access Management (PAM) Solutions: PAM solutions manage and control privileged accounts, which often have elevated access privileges within an organization’s systems. These tools enforce strict access controls, monitor privileged user activities, and provide session recording capabilities to prevent misuse of privileged accounts by insiders.
Employee Monitoring Software: Employee monitoring software enables organizations to track and monitor employee activities on company-owned devices. These tools can capture keystrokes, take screenshots, monitor web browsing, and track application usage. While employee monitoring raises privacy considerations, it can be an effective tool for detecting insider threats and ensuring compliance with security policies.
Security Awareness Training Platforms: Security awareness training platforms provide education and training materials to employees regarding cybersecurity best practices. By improving employees’ knowledge and awareness of security threats, organizations can reduce the risk of unintentional insider incidents caused by negligence or lack of awareness.

The need for simplicity

Security tools need to be simple to use by the whole organization to ensure widespread adoption and effective security practices. When security tools are complex and difficult to use, employees may be less likely to engage with them, leading to lower compliance rates and increased vulnerability to insider threats.

By providing intuitive and user-friendly security tools, organizations can empower employees at all levels to actively participate in safeguarding sensitive information and detecting potential risks. Simple-to-use tools also reduce the need for extensive training, enabling faster implementation and minimizing disruption to daily operations. A simple and straightforward solution to dealing with insider threats is essential for several reasons:

Ease of Implementation: Complex solutions can be time-consuming and resource-intensive to implement. A simple solution allows organizations to quickly deploy the necessary security measures without extensive technical expertise or lengthy implementation processes.
User Adoption: A straightforward solution is more likely to be embraced by employees and stakeholders. If the solution is easy to understand and use, employees are more likely to comply with security protocols and actively participate in mitigating insider threats.
Efficient Detection and Response: Insider threats can occur at any time, and quick detection and response are crucial to minimizing potential damage. A simple solution enables efficient monitoring and detection of suspicious activities, allowing organizations to respond promptly and mitigate risks before they escalate.
Cost-Effectiveness: Complex solutions often come with high implementation and maintenance costs. A simple solution reduces the financial burden on organizations, making it more cost-effective to implement and sustain over time.
Scalability and Adaptability: As organizations grow and evolve, their security needs may change. A simple solution provides flexibility and scalability, allowing organizations to easily adapt and enhance their security measures as their requirements evolve.
Training and Education: With a simple solution, organizations can provide effective training and education to employees. Clear and straightforward guidelines make it easier to educate employees on security best practices and raise awareness about potential insider threats.
Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Many industries have specific compliance and regulatory requirements related to data protection and insider threat management. A simple solution helps organizations meet these requirements more efficiently, reducing the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
Focus on Core Business Functions: Dealing with insider threats should not distract organizations from their core business functions. A simple solution allows organizations to address insider threats effectively without diverting excessive resources and attention from their primary objectives.

While a simple solution may not cover all possible scenarios and complexities, it provides a solid foundation for your entire organization to participate in addressing insider threats. It allows you to establish basic security measures and build upon them as needed, ensuring a practical and manageable approach to mitigating insider risks.

Your security processes are only effective if they are actually employed by all actors in your organizations, and this necessitates tools that are simple to use. Ultimately, a simple and accessible security toolset encourages a culture of security awareness and enhances the organization’s overall security posture.

Insider threats in conclusion

Mitigating insider threats in organizations is achievable when proper security measures, including policies, technology, and continuous employee training, are in place. Organizations must take proactive approaches to security, minimize possible threats, and proactively use available tools and resources to detect insider attacks.

By implementing these strategies, organizations can protect their sensitive data and ensure operational continuity. With the proper implementation of these measures, organizations can reduce the risk of malicious insiders and ensure the safety of their data. Don’t let insider threats devastate your organization. Be proactive and take action now: as a first step, make sure to download EB Control and gain perpetual control of your sensitive materials!

WRITTEN BY

EverythingBlockchain