Insider Threat
Not all attacks come from the outside. An insider threat is a security risk that originates from within the targeted organization—employees, former employees, contractors, or business associates.
1 The Enemy Within
Trusted Access
Firewalls face outward. They are designed to stop intruders. But what if the attacker already has a key card, a login, and a desk inside the building? Insider threats are dangerous because they bypass perimeter defenses.
2 Types of Insiders
The Negligent Insider
The "Oops" Factor. An employee who accidentally deletes data, clicks a phishing link, or leaves a laptop on a train. They don't mean harm, but they cause it.
The Malicious Insider
The Traitor. A disgruntled employee seeking revenge, or a spy stealing trade secrets for financial gain. They intentionally abuse their access.
3 Defense Strategies
Least Privilege
Give employees only the access they strictly need to do their job. Nothing more.
Monitoring
Track user activity. If a marketing intern tries to access the engineering database, flag it.
Offboarding
Immediately revoke access when an employee leaves the company.