When most company leaders think about cybersecurity, they assume the vast majority of threats will come from anonymous hackers. In fact, insider threats from individuals who work for or are contracted by organizations can be even more problematic.
Some insider threats come from malicious actors who accept work for companies or even pose as employees with the explicit intent of gaining access to protected files, while others involve careless employees being used unknowingly as pawns. Read on to find out how to mitigate insider threats from both malicious actors and careless but unsuspecting employees.
1. Implement Technical Controls
Most large organizations have in-house data and network security teams to implement and manage technical controls like network monitoring. While smaller companies can’t usually afford to keep a full staff of security officers on their IT teams, they can utilize Professional IT Services to accomplish the same goal.
Signing up for network and endpoint data protection plans can help businesses of all sizes identify anomalous online behaviors such as changes to network traffic, unapproved system access, and other red flags quickly. Identifying potential insider threats before they lead to significant data losses can save companies money and protect their reputations, so it’s worth the cost to sign up for third-party monitoring services.
2. Train Employees to Spot Threats
Since most insider threats come from well-meaning but careless employees, not malicious corporate spies, providing adequate training can go a long way toward protecting networks and data. Make sure employees receive anti-phishing training and teach them to identify risky behavior among their coworkers. Allowing employees to submit anonymous tips about potential insider threats to HR will increase the chances that malicious actors are caught while simultaneously encouraging a culture of accountability.
3. Coordinate Between Departments
It’s surprising how many insider threats result from miscommunication between IT and HR departments. If the HR department plans to lay off employees, the IT department needs to know about it. Those soon-to-be-former employees should have their credentials revoked immediately to reduce the chances they will use their credentials to steal data or launch cyberattacks.
HR can also work with IT to identify suspicious behavior. Before letting problematic employees go, many HR departments put them on watchlists to detect potential issues. Working with the IT department and, more importantly, threat detection professionals can help to prevent data losses and other incidents before they happen.
4. Be Proactive
Some organizations wait until there’s an obvious threat to take action. It’s always better to take a proactive approach by compiling an insider threat detection team or contracting the work out to a third-party IT company. Come up with a plan for detecting and addressing potential insider threats now to mitigate damage in the event that an incident occurs.
5. Implement User Behavioral Analytics (UBA)
User behavioral analytics (UBA) involves tracking, collecting, and analyzing user data with the help of specialized software programs. UBA software is trained to detect anomalous behaviors by first collecting information about normal user behavior patterns over a prolonged period, then using the data to identify red flag behaviors that don’t fit those patterns. UBA systems don’t prevent the need for active threat monitoring, but they can act as another safeguard against insider threats.
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Most small business owners don’t have it in the budget to hire specialized IT teams, but they don’t have to. Combine the approaches described above to establish an effective insider threat detection protocol. It could save the company a lot of money in the long run.