When you hear the words “Cyber-Security threat” what do you think of? You’re likely thinking of a hacker, sitting in a room or office somewhere, trying to gain access to a company’s database to steal their valuable information. That’s terrifying enough, but what do you do when the hacker isn’t in some building far away? What do you do when they are right there in your own office? This is what we call an insider threat, and many companies have found themselves in very deep water, because of the very people they trust the most, their employees.
Picture this: There once was a company called SecureTech. They were extremely profitable and had some of the most state-of-the-art technology on the planet. Many hackers had tried to lay siege against their information fortress and failed woefully, time and time again. SecureTech was very confident that no one on earth could breach their security infrastructure. So, one can only imagine their surprise when they all got to work one morning and found secret company documents plastered on the front page of the news, and all over the internet.
As one would expect, chaos swiftly broke out. How could their impervious, world-class system be compromised in this way? Where was the vulnerability that the hacker took advantage of? They investigated for a long time before the truth finally came out. There was no vulnerability. There was no hacker. Just a very disgruntled employee named John who used his position to access and leak company secrets. A truth so simple, yet so devastating. Now SecureTech knew the reality of what had taken place, but it was too late. Too much had been lost already…
The SecureTech incident teaches us an invaluable lesson about Cyber-Security. While safeguarding against external attacks is very crucial, focusing on your employees and implementing a comprehensive insider threat program is just as vital. Here are some key steps to consider:
Enhanced Access Controls: Implement stringent access controls that limit privileges based on job roles and responsibilities, for example PAM. PAM stands for Privileged Access Management, and it is a system where a few, very trusted members are given the ability to access and manage sensitive information belonging to the company. This means vital data will only be available to employees who need that information in order to complete their tasks.
Behavioural Monitoring: Deploy advanced monitoring systems that can detect abnormal user behaviour patterns. This helps identify suspicious activities such as unauthorised access attempts, unusual data transfers, or repeated failed login attempts.
Security Awareness Training: Educate your employees on the risks associated with insider threats. Offer regular training sessions that emphasise security best practices, password hygiene, phishing awareness, and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.
Incident Response Planning: Develop a robust incident response plan that includes procedures for detecting, responding to, and mitigating insider threats. This ensures a swift and coordinated response in the event of a breach.
Continuous Evaluation: Regularly assess and refine your insider threat program. Stay up to date on emerging threat trends, new attack techniques, and evolving technologies to adapt your defense strategies accordingly.
Partner with BluDive Technologies for Comprehensive Security Solutions: In our many years of working with partners both within and outside the country, we have come across and dealt with a plethora of security threats. Our team is constantly on the cutting edge of the best security solutions and is extremely adept at protecting against all types of information vulnerabilities. Even those from within your own ranks. Not only will we help you fortify your security structure, but we will also be providing comprehensive training for your employees, that will help them stay accountable, and security conscious.
As any boxer will tell you, the knockout punch isn’t the strongest punch. It’s the one you didn’t see coming. Reach out to us at [email protected] for all your security, and IT solutions.
Stay secure. Stay protected.
