Insider Threats: Prevention and protection of sensitive data

Organizations today face a variety of cyber threats, from ransomware attacks to phishing attacks. Insider threats, however, are unique in that they originate from an organization's own employees or those with internal access. These threats can have serious consequences, from data leaks and financial losses to damaged reputations and legal ramifications.

Insider threats are usually difficult to detect because the attackers already have access to the company's systems and information. Therefore, prevention is a critical protection mechanism. Companies must take proactive measures to minimize the risk of insider threats and protect sensitive data.

What are insider threats?

Insider threats refer to the danger posed by individuals working within a company, organization, or institution who have access to sensitive information and resources. Unlike external threats, such as hacker attacks, insider threats originate from individuals already within the organization's protective walls. These individuals can be current employees, contractors, as well as former employees or partners.

The main danger with insider threats is that the attackers already have a certain level of trust and access, which makes it easier for them to carry out malicious activities undetected. Insider threats can occur in a number of ways, including:

Data theft
An insider steals confidential company data to use for personal or financial gain or to sell to competitors.
Sabotage
An employee might intentionally damage systems or data to harm the company, whether for revenge or other motives.
Misconduct
Unintentional insider threats occur when employees inadvertently disclose sensitive information or act carelessly, such as by sharing passwords or falling for phishing emails.

It is important to distinguish between intentional and unintentional insider threats. Intentional insider threats refer to actions in which the insider deliberately and willfully performs harmful activities. These can be targeted data leaks, acts of sabotage, or the sale of corporate secrets.

Unintentional insider threats, on the other hand, occur when employees, without malicious intent, perform actions that compromise the security of the organization. This can be caused by negligence, lack of training or unintentionally clicking on malicious links in emails.

The scope and frequency of insider threats is alarming. According to the "2021 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report," 34% of data breaches were due to insider threats. This underscores the importance of specifically addressing this issue.

Another worrying trend is the increase in unintentional insider threats due to increased home office work. Employees who work from home are more vulnerable to security breaches and could unknowingly violate security policies.

Overall, these statistics and trends illustrate that insider threats are a real and growing danger that cannot be ignored. Organizations must be proactive to protect against it.

The emergence of insider threats

The emergence of insider threats is a complex phenomenon due to a variety of factors. These factors can foster insider threats:

Financial motives
One of the most obvious reasons employees become insider threats is financial need or greed. They might steal sensitive data to sell or use for personal financial gain.
Revenge
A terminated or wronged employee might seek revenge against their employer by intentionally causing harm or disclosing confidential information.
Inadequate training
Employees who are not adequately educated about IT security risks and best practices may inadvertently create insider threats by falling for phishing emails, for example.
Lack of identity controls
Organizations that do not implement effective controls to manage user permissions and access rights make it easier for potential insiders to implement their plans.

The reasons why employees become insider threats often run deeper and can be psychological:

Abuse of trust
An insider threat might exploit the trust placed in him or her by the company to conceal unauthorized activities.
Identity crisis
Employees who no longer identify with the company and its goals could become threats because they feel they have nothing to lose.
Social pressure
In some cases, employees could be pressured by other, possibly criminal, groups to carry out insider threats.

Insider Threat Prevention

Insider threat prevention is critical to protecting your organization from the wide range of threats that can come from people with internal access. It is far more cost-effective and efficient than responding to incidents after they occur. Reactive measures can be expensive and often mean that the damage has already been done. Prevention, on the other hand, aims to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place, which helps protect the company's reputation and minimize financial losses.

Prevention also has the advantage of helping to build a safe and trustworthy work environment where employees feel less tempted to become insider threats. This strengthens the company in the long run.

One of the fundamental ways to prevent insider threats is to create a corporate culture of security. This means integrating security awareness and best practices into the day-to-day operations of the company. Employees should understand that security is a shared responsibility.

After all, employees are often the first line of defense against insider threats. Training and awareness are therefore critical. Employees should be educated on how to recognize potential signs of insider threats, such as suspicious behavior or unusual data access.

Regular training can also help educate employees about the risks of phishing attacks and teach them how to identify and respond to suspicious emails. Employee knowledge and skills are an essential part of security prevention.

Technology solutions play an important role in insider threat prevention. Here are some key technologies and approaches:

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) - What is DLP and how does it work?
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) refers to technologies and processes designed to protect sensitive data within an organization. DLP solutions identify, monitor and protect sensitive information by monitoring the flow of data and enforcing rules to prevent data loss. This includes encrypting data, monitoring email and file activity, and identifying and classifying sensitive information.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) - How SIEM can help detect insider threats
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a comprehensive platform for monitoring and analyzing security events in real time. SIEM systems collect logs and data from multiple sources across the enterprise and analyze them for signs of anomalies or suspicious behavior. SIEM can help detect insider threats by highlighting unusual activity or misuse of access rights.
Other technology approaches and tools
In addition to DLP and SIEM, there are many other technological approaches and tools that can help prevent insider threats. These include intrusion detection systems (IDS), user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), identity and access management (IAM) and more.

Preventing insider threats requires a holistic approach that includes both technology solutions and cultural changes. Organizations should be aware that the threat can come from within and take appropriate action to protect against it.

Practical solutions

Below, we have compiled practical solution approaches for you. These include a step-by-step guide to implementing a data loss prevention (DLP) system, best practices for using security information and event management (SIEM) to detect and respond to insider threats, and tips for continuously monitoring and improving insider threat prevention.

Step-by-step guide to implementing a DLP system

Needs assessment
Identify the type of sensitive data your organization needs to protect. This may include personal data, intellectual property or business-critical information.
Policy development
Create clear policies for handling sensitive data. Define who has access to what data and under what conditions data may be shared or transferred.
Select a DLP solution
Select a DLP solution that meets your needs. Consider aspects such as data flow monitoring, encryption options, and integration with existing systems.
Implement
Implement the DLP solution and configure it according to your policies. Make sure you roll out DLP policies gradually so as not to disrupt your employees' workflow.
Train employees
Train your employees on the new DLP policies and procedures. Make them aware of the importance of data protection and the impact of insider threats.
Monitor and adapt
Continuously monitor data flow and activity to identify suspicious activity. Adjust your DLP policies as needed to respond to new threats.

SIEM best practices for insider threat detection and response

Integrate data sources
Ensure your SIEM system collects data from multiple sources across the enterprise, including network logs, server logs, and endpoint activity.
Detect anomalies
Leverage your SIEM system's anomaly and suspicious behavior detection capabilities. Define thresholds that indicate unusual activity.
Event correlation
Implement event correlation rules to identify potential insider threats. These rules can indicate specific patterns of behavior.
Incident Response
Create clear procedures for responding to identified insider threats. This should include isolation and investigation of the incident, as well as mitigation measures and prevention of future incidents.
Documentation and reporting
Document all incidents and actions. Create regular reports to identify trends and patterns and adjust your security strategy accordingly.

Tips for continuous monitoring and improvement of insider threat prevention

Conduct regular audits
Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests to identify potential vulnerabilities and risks.
Update training
Update employee training and awareness programs to keep them up to date on current threats.
Employee engagement
Encourage employees to actively report suspicious activity or security breaches and reward their engagement.
Technology refresh
Keep your security technologies and solutions up to date to guard against current threats.
Collaborate
Collaborate with other companies, industry associations, and security experts to share information and best practices.

Preventing insider threats requires a proactive approach that includes technology solutions, employee training and awareness, and clear policies and procedures. By taking these steps, organizations can be better equipped to detect, prevent and respond to insider threats while continuously improving their security strategy.

Concrete examples of insider threats

Insider threats are not an abstract danger. There have been some notable cases in the past where insiders have caused severe damage. Here are a few prominent cases of insider threats in the corporate world:

Edward Snowden and the NSA
Edward Snowden is undoubtedly one of the most well-known insider threat actors. As a systems administrator at the National Security Agency (NSA), he revealed confidential information about extensive surveillance programs in 2013. His actions sparked worldwide controversy and resulted in significant damage to the U.S. government.
Chelsea Manning and WikiLeaks
In 2010, former U.S. soldier Chelsea Manning forwarded classified military documents and diplomatic dispatches to the WikiLeaks disclosure platform. This incident brought sensitive information to light and led to diplomatic tensions.
Tesla and the sabotage case
In 2018, a former Tesla employee was accused of stealing the company's trade secrets and confidential data and leaking them to third parties. This case highlights the threat that former employees can pose.

Overall, these examples show that insider threats are real and serious. Enterprises should take the appropriate steps to protect themselves from these threats while being able to respond quickly and appropriately to detected signs.

Conclusion

Protection against insider threats is critical in today's enterprise world. It is no longer enough to focus solely on protecting against external attacks. Insider threats are real, multifaceted, and can cause significant damage. In this article, we have covered the definition of insider threats, their originating factors, prevention strategies and specific examples. In the end, one important insight stands out: enterprise security requires a holistic approach.

A holistic approach to security involves several critical elements:

Cultural change
Companies must create a corporate culture of safety in which safety awareness and responsibility are firmly embedded from senior management down to the intern. This requires training, awareness and clear policies.
Technological solutions
Technology solutions such as data loss prevention (DLP) and security information and event management (SIEM) are essential tools for monitoring, detecting and preventing insider threats. Proper selection and effective use of these solutions is critical.
Training and awareness
Employee training and awareness are key factors. Employees should know how to report suspicious activity, what their role is in keeping the company safe, and what the consequences are for violations.
Continuous monitoring and improvement
The security strategy should not be static, but continuously evolving. Regular audits, training updates, and adapting policies to changing threats are essential.

Emphasizing a holistic approach to security is critical not only to combat insider threats, but also to ensure the overall security of an organization. Security breaches in one place can put the entire company at risk. Therefore, it is imperative that companies act proactively to improve and enhance their security strategy.

How to protect your company from insider threats