Year of the Snakes

CNY is here, and with it comes some risks. Reports have shown that there comes an uptick of insider related cyber-crimes during holiday seasons. These can range from disgruntled employees to reduced defenses as employees leave the workplace.

As we enter the holiday season, a time for celebration and relaxation, cybersecurity teams face a critical challenge. Whether intentional or unintentional, insider threats tend to spike during this period due to reduced oversight. Let’s unpack the reasons behind this seasonal vulnerability and discuss actionable strategies to mitigate the risks.

Why Insider Threats Increase During Holidays

The holidays might actually give incentives to moles in your team the chance to act. Never let your guard down, even during celebrations.

Distracted Employees?

The holidays bring a unique blend of stress and excitement. Employees juggling festive activities, travel plans, and personal obligations may become less vigilant, leading to careless mistakes or lapses in security practices. For example, a rushed click on a suspicious link or the mishandling of sensitive data can have serious consequences.

Increased Remote Access?

With more employees working remotely during the holidays, the likelihood of security breaches rises. Remote work often involves accessing systems from personal devices or unsecured networks, which can be exploited by cybercriminals if proper safeguards are not in place.

Imbalanced Workloads?

For some departments, such as customer support or logistics, the holiday season brings an increased workload. Under pressure to meet deadlines, employees might bypass security protocols or take shortcuts that could compromise sensitive systems.

Less Supervision?

With many colleagues and managers on vacation, there is often reduced oversight of employee activities. This lack of supervision can create opportunities for malicious insiders or accidental missteps to go unnoticed.

Windows of Opportunity

Employees planning to backstab the company may find it appealing to do so during the holidays. Some of them may be under added financial pressures due to the nature of the holidays where they are expected to spend more.

How to Mitigate Holiday Insider Threats

While the risks are real, there are proactive measures organizations can take to protect their systems and data during the holiday season:

Reinforce Security Awareness?

Use this time to remind employees of cybersecurity best practices. Even small announcements during a Zoom meeting can make a big difference. Tailor training to address holiday-specific risks, such as phishing scams disguised as holiday deals or charity appeals.

Monitor User Activity Closely?

Enhance monitoring efforts to detect unusual behavior. This can include using automation to keep an eye on irregular login attempts, access patterns, or unexpected data transfers. Early detection can prevent minor issues from escalating.

Implement Strong Access Controls?

Ensure robust authentication and authorization mechanisms are in place. Limit access to sensitive systems and data to only those who need it, and regularly review user permissions.

Communicate Clearly?

Keep employees informed about security protocols and encourage them to report any suspicious activity immediately. A clear and open line of communication fosters a culture of vigilance.

Proper Offboarding

Keep holiday spirits high during the offboarding process. This can include compensating employees before the holidays start, and ensuring all work devices and networks are properly disabled.