Insider Threat Series -1 "Rise of Insider Threats with Work from Anywhere ERA"

1. Introduction

After the Pandemic, remote/Hybrid work is now a standard option for most organizations or professionals. But, the rising popularity of WRA(Work From Anywhere) has driven a corresponding rise in cybersecurity incidents, specially Insider threats. One area that will need to be monitored now more than ever is the Insider Threat.?

In this article, we will look at the rise of insider threats in the age of remote working and what organizations can do to protect themselves.

2. What are insider threats?

Insider Threats are significant security risks employees, contractors, and third-party vendors pose. They are malicious or disgruntled people with authorized access to confidential information, networks, and company systems.

Insider threats can be divided into two major categories: malicious and non-malicious. Malicious insider threats involve intentional sabotage, data theft, or fraud. Non-malicious Insiders threats can be inadvertent or accidental and involve negligence or carelessness with company data or resources.

In either case, insider threats can lead to data loss, financial loss, reputational damage, and an industry breach. They can also expose companies to legal and regulatory action.

The most common types of insider threats include data exfiltration, fraud, theft of intellectual property and trade secrets, sabotage, and physical security threats. Companies need to be aware of these threats and take measures to minimize the risk of an attack.

3. Who is at risk for being an insider threat?

Any person with privileged access to confidential information, networks, and systems can potentially be an insider threat. This includes:

- Employees

- Contractors

- Third-party vendors

- Business partners

- Consultants

Organizations should consider any of these people as potential insider threats. They should have a system that can detect any suspicious activity and take preventative measures to minimize the risk. This system should also identify and protect the organization's most critical assets.

Organizations should have a clear and comprehensive policy regarding using and handling confidential information. All employees and contractors should be trained on the company's policies and procedures and aware of any breach's consequences. All employees, contractors, and vendors should also be held accountable to the same security standards.

4. How has the work-from-anywhere trend exacerbated the problem of insider threats?

The work-from-anywhere trend has put organizations at an unprecedented risk of insider threats due to its flexibility and convenience. As more organizations implement work-from-anywhere policies, there is an increased risk of security breaches.

Employees now have unrestricted access to company resources, allowing them to access data, applications, systems, and other assets, leaving organizations vulnerable to malicious activity. To make matters worse, with the remote working trend, organizations have difficulty monitoring employees like they did when working in the office.

With unified endpoint management tools, organizations can monitor employee activity from any device to ensure compliance with security policies and identify suspicious behavior. Organizations should also implement two-factor authentication measures and data encryption to safeguard confidential data from unauthorized access. Additionally, continuous employee training and awareness are crucial to ensuring all employees are aware of threats and follow safe data handling protocols.

5. What can businesses do to protect themselves from insider threats?

Businesses can proactively protect themselves from insider threats and reduce the chances of a malicious or accidental data breach. Here are five essential steps organizations should be taking to protect their systems and data from insider threats:

1. Implement a strict data access policy – Establish limits on which employees can access sensitive data, ensure only authorized personnel have access to this data, and enforce regular reviews of who has access to what data.

2. Educate employees about data security – Organize regular training sessions to ensure employees understand the importance of data security and become aware of the risks of unauthorized access. This should include information on the company's security policy and expectations of individual staff.

3. Use two-factor authentication – Enable two-factor authentication for remote access to company data. This will make it harder for unauthorized people to access data as they must supply two credentials.

4. Monitor user activities – Monitor users' activities internally and externally to identify any suspicious activity. This can help identify insider threats before they do any damage.

5. Implement a secure network infrastructure – Make sure to secure the company's internal network by following best practices, implementing security protocols, and using external security services where appropriate.

6. Conclusion

Although the rise of remote working has enabled businesses to remain productive while adapting to the Pandemic, it also increased the risk of insider threats. Companies must take proactive steps to protect themselves and their data from the potential for malicious or accidental data breaches.

Employees must be informed about the security risks of digitally sharing their work. Businesses must also implement robust data access controls, use two-factor authentication, closely monitor user activities, and invest in secure network infrastructure.

By following these steps, Organizations can reduce the chances of an insider-led data breach and protect their valuable data.

There’s no silver bullet solution with cybersecurity, a layered defense is the only viable defense. ~ James Scott

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