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Insider Threats: Security Incidents Caused by Company Employees
Modern businesses are faced with increasingly advanced cyber threats, but many of them come not from outside, but from inside the organization. Security incidents caused by employees - both consciously and unconsciously - are one of the most common and costly problems that companies have to face. In this article, we will look at what internal threats are, what their causes are, and how an entrepreneur doing business in Poland can effectively protect themselves against them.
What are internal threats in a company?
Insider threats are security incidents caused by current or former employees, contractors, or others with access to company resources. They can be the result of:
Conscious actions
e.g. data theft, sabotage or intentional disclosure of confidential information.
Unconscious actions:
such as accidentally opening an infected attachment, incorrect system configuration, or negligent password management.
Causes of internal threats
- Lack of knowledge and awareness
Employees often don’t realize the potential consequences of their actions. Examples include using weak passwords, using unsecure devices, or being careless when opening email attachments.
- Outdated security policies
Companies that do not implement regular training or updates to their security procedures expose themselves to a greater risk of incidents.
- Poor access management
Excessive privileges granted to employees or lack of control over who has access to data can lead to abuse.
- Employee dissatisfaction
Deliberate harmful actions, such as sabotage, often result from workplace conflicts or dissatisfaction with employment conditions.
- Remote work
The increase in remote working has led to greater risks associated with using unsecure home networks and personal devices.
Internal threats in the company
Consequences of internal incidents
Insider threats can lead to:
- Loss of customer data: resulting in loss of trust and reputation of the company.
- Intellectual property theft: e.g. patents, projects or business strategies.
- Financial costs: resulting from the need to recover data, pay fines for GDPR violations or business interruptions.
- Legal problems: when a security breach leads to claims from customers or partners.
How to prevent insider threats?
- Education and training
Regular cybersecurity training helps increase employee awareness of threats and teaches them how to act appropriately in risky situations.
- Access management
Limit access to data to only those who really need it. Use identity management tools such as Octa Whether Azure AD.
- Monitoring and auditing
Systematic monitoring of employee activity in IT systems allows you to detect suspicious activities at an early stage.
- Security policies
Establish clear policies regarding the use of company devices, data transfers, and password management. Recommend the use of password managers such as LastPass Whether Dashlane.
- Technological security
- Use antivirus and firewall software.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on apps used by your company.
- Encrypt sensitive data to make it harder to steal.
- Verification of contractors
External workers, such as contractors or service providers, can also pose a risk. Conduct background checks on external companies and clearly define the rules of engagement.
Examples of tools supporting security
Internal threats in the company
Insider threats are a serious challenge for everyone entrepreneur operating in Poland. Whether they are the result of conscious or unconscious actions, their consequences can be costly and long-lasting. Effective prevention requires a combination of technology, appropriate policies, and employee education. By investing in these areas, you can minimize risk and protect your company from losses.
Sources:
CERT Poland. IT Security Guide for Businesses.
Kaspersky. (2023). How to Protect Your Business from Insider Threats.
Symantec. (n.d.). Data Loss Prevention and Insider Threat Protection.
CISCO Cybersecurity. (2023). Best Practices for Insider Threat Management.
Gartner Insights. Trends in Internal Security Management.
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