Insider threats usually manifest through one of two paths, each of which needs to be dealt with and addressed carefully by your security team. The first path is that of negligence – the organization did not do enough to thoroughly train employees on the tactics and processes necessary to prevent a breach. This cause can be dealt with handily with a proactive approach to employee training and education. The second path, however, is much trickier to spot – maliciousness. Learning to detect the early signs of a potential insider threat is crucial to ensuring your sensitive data stays protected. Here are some of the most common key indicators.
Poor Performance at Work
A poor performance appraisal can often sting and leave a disgruntled employee seeking revenge against their employer. In addition, those who express themselves quite vocally about company policies that they disagree with could become a potential threat as well. There have been a number of data breach cases that originated with this kind of dissatisfaction at work.
Financial Factors
Personal finances can also play a major role in the development of an insider threat within your organization. Look for signs that an employee is under extreme financial stress – they may have the motivation to sell your company’s data to alleviate that stress. Also, watch out for employees with unexpected financial gain or who may be flaunting signs of wealth without any explanation. It’s possible that they may have already compromised your system.
Unusual Network Access
It’s important to monitor the times your network is accessed. If an employee that normally works a typical 9-5 schedule begins showing up in your logs at unusual times, this may raise red flags if there isn’t a good reason for it.
Moving on to a New Position
Anyone who leaves your organization could be a potential insider threat, especially if any of the other indicators are true of that person. As soon as a resignation letter is received, it’s critical to comb over network activity for at least the last 90 days to determine if there are any anomalies with network access during that time.
Contact ITMG to Develop Strategies and Protocols Designed to Help Your Company Mitigate Your Insider Risk
ITMG is an industry leader in helping organizations throughout the United States strengthen their insider risk management programs and secure sensitive data and intellectual property. Our team of bona fide experts has the real-world experience necessary to plan out and create holistic security solutions tailored to the special needs and risks in your industry. Contact ITMG today to learn more about how we can help! You can also visit our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages for more updates and insights into the world of insider risk management.