Insider threats involve trusted users misusing authorized access, causing data loss, fraud, disruption, or exposure of sensitive systems and records.
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Insider threat is the risk that someone with authorized access—such as an employee, contractor, partner, or former staff member—misuses that access, deliberately or accidentally. It can involve stealing sensitive data, abusing privileges, sabotaging systems, exposing information through mishandling, or enabling an attacker after an account is compromised. The defining issue is that activity may resemble legitimate work.
Security teams reduce this risk with least-privilege access, separation of sensitive duties, strong offboarding, and timely removal of unused accounts and credentials. Audit logs and access monitoring can help identify unusual downloads, privilege changes, or access outside a person’s role, while data-loss controls limit unauthorized movement of sensitive files. Monitoring should respect privacy and applicable employment or data-protection requirements. When suspicious activity is identified, response may include preserving logs, containing the account, reviewing accessed data, and coordinating security, legal, and human-resources processes.
Weekly headline count for the current query.
CISA urges action against insider threats with publication of a new infographic offering strategies to manage risks
Mimecast found that insider threats, credential misuse and user-driven errors were involved in most security incidents last year
KnowBe4 revealed it was duped into hiring a fake IT worker from North Korea resulting in attempted insider threat activity
Cifas reveals 14% rise in dishonest employees, driven mainly by financial necessity last year
Cifas claims that most business decision makers are worried about fraudsters targeting employees
Over half of breaches were caused by human error, according to ICO's data