21ST SEP 2024
Nathan, an employee at PharmaTech, trusted for years, quietly copies sensitive files onto a hidden USB. No alarms trigger; his access is legitimate. Under the guise of loyalty, he sells the data to a competitor, crippling the company from within. No firewall stopped it - because the threat was already inside, unseen and devastating. This is how insider threats in cyber security happen.
An insider threat refers to a cybersecurity risk that originates from within an organization. This typically occurs when a current or former employee, contractor, vendor, or partner misuses their authorized access to harm the organization's networks, systems, or data. Insider threats can be intentional or unintentional, but both can compromise the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of enterprise systems and sensitive information.
While most cybersecurity strategies focus on external threats, insider threats often go unnoticed, leaving organizations vulnerable. IBM states that malicious insider attacks are the most costly, with up to $4.99 million on average. Since insiders already have legitimate access to systems, it becomes challenging for security teams to distinguish between normal user activity and harmful actions.
There are two types of insider threats in cyber security:
Often referred to as "turn-cloaks," malicious insiders intentionally abuse their privileged access to engage in activities like espionage, fraud, intellectual property theft, or sabotage. For instance, an employee might sell confidential data to a competitor, or a disgruntled contractor may introduce malware into the network.
Malicious insiders can be categorized as either collaborators or lone wolves:
Collaborators: Authorized users who intentionally work with a third party—such as a competitor, criminal organization, or foreign government—to harm the organization.
Lone Wolves: Individuals who act independently, without external manipulation, but can cause significant damage due to their privileged access.
Careless insider threats arise unintentionally and are often due to human error, poor judgment, or falling victim to social engineering attacks like phishing. These insiders unknowingly expose systems to external threats.
Careless insiders can be classified as:
Pawns: Individuals who are manipulated, often through techniques like phishing, into inadvertently acting maliciously, such as downloading malware or leaking sensitive information.
Goofs: Users who, while not malicious, ignore security policies due to negligence or ignorance. For example, they might store confidential data on unsecured personal devices.
Insider threats can occur in several ways, ranging from a disgruntled employee seeking revenge to an innocent user making a mistake. Some individuals are manipulated into harmful actions, while others intentionally breach security protocols for financial gain or personal grievances. Given their familiarity with internal processes and systems, insiders can exploit vulnerabilities more effectively than external attackers.
Insider threats are often harder to detect than external attacks, primarily because authorized users don't trigger the same security alarms. To defend against insider threats, it’s essential to monitor both behavioral and digital indicators.
Dissatisfaction or resentment from employees, contractors, or partners.
Attempts to bypass security measures.
Working off-hours without explanation.
Frequent violations of organizational policies.
Discussions about leaving the organization or exploring new job opportunities.
Logging into systems at odd hours or from unusual locations.
A spike in network traffic, indicating potential data theft.
Accessing resources outside their job role.
Frequent requests for elevated access to sensitive data or systems.
Use of unauthorized devices, like USB drives.
Searching the network for sensitive information without authorization.
Start by identifying your organization’s most critical assets, such as confidential data, networks, systems, and personnel. Prioritize these assets and provide the highest level of protection to those most vulnerable to insider threats.
Regularly training all authorized users on security protocols - such as maintaining strong passwords, handling sensitive data correctly, and reporting lost devices - can significantly reduce the risk of negligent insider threats. Security awareness, like recognizing phishing scams or properly routing access requests, also minimizes overall risks. In fact, the Cost of a Data Breach Report shows that companies with employee training reduce breach costs by an average of $285,629 compared to those without training.
Leverage software solutions to track and monitor user behavior. These systems collect data from logs related to user access, authentication, and account changes, helping you establish normal behavior baselines for individuals and devices. Any deviation from these baselines should be flagged and investigated.
Deploy monitoring tools that provide continuous oversight of user activities, aggregating information from multiple sources. Solutions like cyber deception traps can be used to lure malicious insiders, allowing security teams to track their actions and intentions.
Clearly define and communicate security policies to all employees, contractors, and partners. This ensures everyone understands their responsibilities and the potential consequences of violating security protocols. CISA’s Insider threat mitigation guide is a good resource to start with.
Fostering a security-aware culture is critical for preventing insider threats. Regular cybersecurity training helps employees recognize security risks, while addressing employee satisfaction can prevent discontent that may lead to malicious behavior.
Detecting insider threats requires more than traditional cybersecurity measures like firewalls or anti-malware. To effectively protect your digital assets, consider user training and deploy insider threat detection software that combines multiple tools to monitor user activity. Solutions that use user behavior analytics (UBA) can help predict and identify insider threats by analyzing patterns in behavior and minimizing false positives.
