High-Risk User
A high-risk user is a user whose access, role, behavior, business context, or event timing creates elevated insider-risk exposure.
High risk should be a governed risk designation, not a label applied casually to a person. It should be based on defined criteria and reviewed through appropriate legal, privacy, HR, and security processes.
Why it Matters for Insider Risk Exposure
Helps focus attention on exposure without treating every user the same.
Supports enhanced review for sensitive roles, leavers, privileged users, or unusual activity.
Requires strong governance to avoid unfair or unsupported profiling.
Real-World Scenarios / Examples
- Departing employee with sensitive-data access.
- Privileged admin in a critical system.
- Contractor with broad repository access.
- Employee under an approved elevated-risk response process.
Common Mistakes / Misconceptions
- Using ungoverned watchlists.
- Basing risk status on protected characteristics or unsupported assumptions.
- Failing to document decision rationale and review cadence.
Insider Risk Capability Framework™ (IRCF™) Alignment
Strong alignment with Personnel Assurance, IAM, Monitoring, Analysis, Governance, and Oversight and Compliance.
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