What are the best ways to respond to insider threats?

1 Identify the indicators

The first step to respond to insider threats is to identify the potential signs of malicious or suspicious behavior, such as unauthorized access or use of data, systems, or networks, excessive data downloads or transfers, violation of policies or procedures, poor performance or attitude, conflicts or grievances with coworkers or managers, financial or personal problems, and resignation or termination. It's important to monitor and audit the activities and access of your users, particularly those with privileged roles. Educating and training your staff to recognize and report the indicators of insider threats is also essential.

2 Assess the impact

The second step of responding to insider threats is to assess the impact and scope of the incident. To do this, you should gather and analyze evidence of the insider's actions, such as logs, files, emails, or communications. Additionally, it is important to determine the type, amount, and value of data or systems that have been compromised or affected. You should also assess the potential or actual harm to the organization, customers, partners, or stakeholders, as well as any legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations or implications. Lastly, estimate the cost and time required to recover or restore normal operations. Once you have gathered this information, it is essential to document and communicate your findings and recommendations to the relevant authorities and stakeholders.

3 Contain and mitigate

The third step to respond to insider threats is to contain and mitigate the incident. This includes isolating or disabling the insider's access to data, systems, or networks, securing or recovering the compromised or affected data, systems, or networks, and implementing or updating security controls and measures to prevent or limit further damage. It is also important to coordinate with legal, human resources, or law enforcement teams to take appropriate actions against the insider. Additionally, you should inform and assist those affected by the incident in order to protect their interests and rights. Lastly, you should document and communicate your actions and outcomes to the relevant authorities and stakeholders.

4 Analyze and learn

The fourth step to respond to insider threats is to analyze and learn from the incident. This includes conducting a post-mortem or root cause analysis to identify what happened, why it happened, how it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. Additionally, you should identify and address any gaps or weaknesses in your policies, procedures, or systems that enabled or facilitated the insider's actions. To raise the level of knowledge and skills of your staff, you should review and update your security awareness, training, or education programs. Furthermore, you should implement or improve your insider threat detection, prevention, and response capabilities such as tools, processes, or teams. Lastly, measure and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your actions and improvements. Afterward, document and communicate your lessons learned and best practices to the relevant authorities and stakeholders.