You might feel confident that your business is well-protected from cyberattacks, but as it’s Cyber Security Awareness Month we thought it would be a good time to explore some critical elements of cyber security strategies in business. With excellent security systems in place, you’re likely covered against external threats. But are you equally shielded from dangers that arise from within?
Your employees, vendors, partners, and even yourself could unknowingly—or intentionally—pose risks to your business. That’s why it’s essential to understand how to defend your business from internal threats. In this article, we’ll explore different types of insider threats, warning signs to watch for, and, most importantly, how to prevent them.
Types of Insider Threats
Insider threats come in many forms, each with its own unique challenges. Here are some of the most common:
- Sabotage
Disgruntled employees, activists, or individuals working for competitors might intentionally damage or disrupt your business by deleting key files, spreading malware, or changing passwords to lock the company out of its own systems.
Example: A dissatisfied employee at a coffee shop deliberately tampers with equipment, leading to service disruption.
- Credential Sharing
Sharing login credentials is risky—much like giving someone the keys to your house. You never know how they might use them, whether it's harmless or damaging.
Example: An employee uses a friend’s laptop to check work emails but forgets to log out. The laptop is later compromised, exposing sensitive company information.
- Negligence & Human Error
Mistakes or careless actions by employees can lead to insider threats. While training can reduce errors, addressing negligence may require stricter measures.
Example: An employee clicks on a phishing link, inadvertently downloading malware, or loses a laptop containing important data.
- Data Theft
This occurs when an individual within the organisation intentionally steals or leaks sensitive data for personal gain or malicious intent. This can happen by physically taking devices or through digital means like copying files.
Example: An employee of a healthcare provider steals and sells patient data on the dark web
- Unauthorised Access
Insider threats also arise when unauthorised individuals gain access to sensitive business data. Sometimes, this is done with malicious intent; other times, it occurs accidentally.
Identifying Insider Threats
Detecting insider threats early can help prevent severe damage. Watch for these warning signs:
- Unnecessary access requests: Repeated attempts to access restricted information without a valid reason.
- Large data transfers: Significant amounts of data being copied or transferred by an employee.
- Disabled security tools: Employees turning off security measures like firewalls or antivirus software.
- Unusual access behaviour: Employees accessing information unrelated to their role.
- Use of personal devices: Employees accessing sensitive information on unauthorised devices.
- Behavioural changes: Signs of stress, missed deadlines, or other concerning behaviours from an employee.
Identifying Insider Threats
Here are five key steps to create a robust cybersecurity strategy to protect your business from insider threats:
- Limit access to sensitive data based on roles and review permissions regularly.
- Regularly back up critical data to ensure recovery after any loss.
- Set up strong password policies and promote multi-factor authentication.
- Train your staff on security best practices and the dangers of insider threats.
- Develop a thorough incident response plan to manage insider threat situations.
Don't face Insider Threats Alone
If you’d like to read more about insider threats and wider cyber security strategies, we’ve written extensively about them here.
Dealing with internal threats can be daunting, especially if you’re handling it all on your own. This is where an experienced IT partner can help. We provide the expertise to put robust security measures in place to protect your business from internal risks.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how we can help you monitor and respond to insider threats before they escalate. Let’s work together to safeguard your business from the inside out.