Common Insider Threats And How To Mitigate Them -

Since negligence is the leading cause of breaches, continuous security awareness training is vital. Employees should be taught how to spot phishing, the dangers of "tailgating" (letting someone follow them through a secure door), and the importance of using password managers. 4. Rigorous Offboarding Processes

When an employee leaves the company—especially under tense circumstances—access must be revoked immediately. This includes disabling VPN access, changing shared passwords, and collecting all physical hardware. Many breaches occur in the "gap" between an employee's departure and the IT department's notification. 5. Monitoring and Visibility Common Insider Threats and How to Mitigate Them

The most common type of insider threat is the well-meaning employee who makes a mistake. Negligence accounts for the majority of incidents. Examples include: Since negligence is the leading cause of breaches,

Leaving a laptop unlocked in a public space or using weak, recycled passwords. 3. The Compromised Insider (The "Pawn") Rigorous Offboarding Processes When an employee leaves the

A disgruntled employee who feels passed over for a promotion or is facing termination may delete critical files or leak sensitive data to damage the company’s reputation. 2. The Negligent Insider (The "Accidental" Threat)

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) software can block sensitive information from being emailed to personal accounts or uploaded to unauthorized USB drives. Additionally, monitoring for signs of employee burnout or disgruntlement can help HR and security teams intervene before a "negligent" or "malicious" situation develops. Conclusion