The contemporary cyber threat landscape is full of risks. While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the numerous external concerns, now is not the time to overlook insider threats.
Insider risks are becoming more prevalent. Insider assaults have risen dramatically in recent years, whether they originate from unintentional insiders who are vulnerable to phishing attempts or malevolent insiders looking to reveal critical data.
According to the HelpSystems-sponsored 2019 Insider Threat Report from Cybersecurity Insiders, 70% of cybersecurity professionals feel the frequency of insider attacks has grown in the previous year. In addition, 62% of companies have had at least one insider attack in the last year.
Also Read: Three Strategies for Strengthening Cyber-Defenses and Address Sophisticated Threats
Here are some strategies that firms can adopt to combat the insider threat.
Recognize possible internal actors
When firms recognize the problem, the next thing to do is to try to identify where an insider threat could arise. Most commonly it is the employees that are the threat from inside, but it can also come from business partners, contractors, or vendors. Anyone with inside access to the network can compromise security, misconfigure the system to allow data breaches, steal IP or perpetrate fraud.
Stop data espionage
What drives an attacker and what they want might be quite different. Intellectual Property (IP) is a common target; therefore, safeguarding company data is critical. Even if a malevolent actor manages to get access, putting adequate controls on the data, monitoring access, and restricting illegal movement can prevent them from achieving their goals. It’s feasible to identify an insider threat and neutralize the attack by evaluating data exfiltration attempts. Whether it’s someone transferring files to an off-site file-sharing site or sending file attachments to their personal email, they may be recognized and stopped.
Employee awareness
Employee awareness is another important aspect in preventing insider threats. Firms must ensure that their consumers understand what a phishing email looks like, the risks of misplacing data, and the perils of accessing public Wi-Fi connections, among other things. Not only will this help to prevent that person from becoming an internal danger, but it may also help them recognize additional insider risks among their coworkers. Colleagues may feel uncomfortable reporting questionable conduct to the information security team all too often. As a result, businesses should sit down with their employees and make sure they understand that there is an open door policy where they can stay anonymous if they have something to report.
Also Read: Three SaaS Security Threats and Risks Enterprises Must Address
Account compromise detection
Accounts that have been compromised are a severe problem. Whether an account is hijacked via phishing, a “drive-by” online hijack, malware on a workstation, or any of the other numerous ways an account can be compromised, the end result is the same — a threat within the walls. As a result, discovering compromised accounts is a critical tool for mitigating insider threats. This is especially critical since accounts are simpler to hack in businesses that haven’t adopted adequate access restrictions. Early detection of illegal access might be the difference between reminding users to update their passwords and dealing with a big incident.
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