2.3 Insider Threats:
Insider threats are security risks that come from individuals who have authorized access to an organization's systems, networks, or data. These individuals may be employees, contractors, or partners of the organization. They have knowledge of the organization's security practices and are able to bypass them, intentionally or unintentionally, to cause harm.
Types of insider threats:
There are different types of insider threats, including malicious insiders who intentionally cause harm to the organization, careless insiders who inadvertently cause harm due to negligence or lack of awareness, and compromised insiders who are manipulated or coerced by external attackers to perform malicious acts.
Signs of insider threats:
There are several signs that may indicate an insider threat, such as unusual network activity, unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems, changes in work patterns, and an employee's sudden change in behavior or attitude towards the company.
Preventing insider threats:
Preventing insider threats involves implementing security policies and procedures, restricting access to sensitive information and systems, monitoring employee behavior and activity, and providing security awareness training to employees. Additionally, organizations can use technology such as user behavior analytics and data loss prevention tools to detect and prevent insider threats.
Responding to insider threats:
If an insider threat is detected, it is important to respond quickly and appropriately to minimize the damage. This may involve disabling the employee's access to systems and data, conducting a forensic investigation, and notifying law enforcement if necessary. Organizations should also have an incident response plan in place to guide their response to insider threats.
What is the definition of insider threats?
What are the types of insider threats?
What are the signs of insider threats?
How can insider threats be prevented?
How should an organization respond to an insider threat?
What is an insider threat?
What are some types of insider threats?
What are some signs of insider threats?
How can insider threats be prevented?
How should a company respond to an insider threat?
______ threats are threats to an organization's security or data that come from people within the organization.
insiderThe most common type of insider threat is ______ .
carelessnessSigns of an insider threat may include unusual ______ activity or an employee exhibiting ______ behavior.
network, suspiciousPreventing insider threats requires implementing security measures such as access controls, ______ monitoring, and employee ______ programs.
behavioral, trainingWhen responding to an insider threat, it's important to gather ______ and take swift ______ action to minimize the potential damage.
evidence, remedialSort the following insider threat examples in order of increasing severity:
accidental data exposure
malicious theft of trade secrets
unauthorized access to confidential information
inappropriate use of company resources
Sort the following insider threat indicators by their level of concern:
employee accessing sensitive data outside of working hours
employee visiting a competitor's website
employee repeatedly ignoring company policies
employee using a company device to download pirated software
Sort the following measures for preventing insider threats by their effectiveness:
background checks during hiring
limiting employee access to sensitive data
regular security awareness training
anonymous tip reporting system
Sort the following consequences of insider threats by their severity:
financial loss due to stolen data
reputational damage to the company
legal action against the company
physical harm to employees or customers
Sort the following steps for responding to an insider threat incident by their priority:
gathering evidence
notifying law enforcement
revoking employee access
conducting an internal investigation
informing affected parties
Please match the following definitions:
An employee with malicious intent who misuses company resources and information for personal gain or to cause harm ➢ insider threat
When an insider accidentally causes damage or harm to the company or its resources ➢ unintentional insider threat
When an outsider tricks an insider into giving away sensitive information or performing an action that compromises the security of the company ➢ social engineering
An individual who has the potential to cause harm to a company, but has not yet taken any action ➢ insider risk
A technique used to detect and prevent insider threats by monitoring and analyzing employee behavior and activity ➢ insider threat detectionPlease match the following definitions:
The act of stealing confidential information and selling it to a competitor or third party ➢ intellectual property theft
When an employee accesses confidential information that they do not need to do their job ➢ data exfiltration
When an employee intentionally causes damage or destruction to the company's resources or data ➢ sabotage
A type of insider threat that is motivated by a desire for revenge or retribution against the company ➢ vendetta
A type of insider threat that is motivated by financial gain ➢ fraudPlease match the following definitions:
A sign of an insider threat where an employee exhibits unusual behavior or changes in behavior ➢ behavioral anomaly
A sign of an insider threat where an employee begins to take more risks than usual ➢ increased risk taking
A sign of an insider threat where an employee displays a sense of entitlement or grievances towards the company ➢ sense of entitlement
A sign of an insider threat where an employee displays a lack of loyalty or commitment to the company ➢ lack of loyalty
A sign of an insider threat where an employee exhibits signs of stress, anxiety, or depression ➢ emotional distressPlease match the following definitions:
Educating employees on the importance of data security and how to identify and prevent insider threats ➢ insider threat awareness training
A set of policies and procedures that are designed to prevent and respond to insider threats ➢ insider threat program
A technique used to prevent insider threats by monitoring and controlling employee access to data and resources ➢ access control
A technique used to prevent insider threats by monitoring employee activity and behavior ➢ behavioral monitoring
The process of regularly reviewing and updating security measures to ensure they are effective against insider threats ➢ security assessmentPlease match the following definitions:
Immediately revoking employee access to company resources and information in response to a suspected insider threat ➢ access revocation
A type of insider threat response that involves monitoring and investigating an employee's activity and behavior ➢ insider threat investigation
A type of insider threat response that involves taking legal action against an employee who has committed an insider threat ➢ legal action
A type of insider threat response that involves communicating the threat to employees and stakeholders to raise awareness and prevent similar incidents ➢ incident notification
A type of insider threat response that involves implementing new policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future ➢ mitigation planningFill in the blank:
{insider} threats are threats to an organization's security or data that come from people within the organization.
Fill in the blank:
The most common type of insider threat is {carelessness} .
Fill in the blank:
Signs of an insider threat may include unusual {network} activity or an employee exhibiting {suspicious} behavior.
Fill in the blank:
Preventing insider threats requires implementing security measures such as access controls, {behavioral} monitoring, and employee {training} programs.
Fill in the blank:
When responding to an insider threat, it's important to gather {evidence} and take swift {remedial} action to minimize the potential damage.
How familiar are you with the concept of insider threats?
How concerned are you about insider threats in your organization?
How frequently are your employees trained on identifying and preventing insider threats?
How effective do you believe your organization's measures for preventing insider threats are?
How would you rate your organization's response plan to an insider threat incident?