Boost Your Joint Staff’s Insider Threat Awareness with These Tips

Boost Your Joint Staff’s Insider Threat Awareness with These Tips

As much as we try to trust and rely on our employees, there are times when their actions can potentially harm the company. This is why insider threats cannot be overlooked, and it is essential to improve your joint staff’s awareness of such threats. In this article, we will discuss some tips that can help enhance your employees’ understanding of insider threats and help prevent such incidents from occurring.

What is an insider threat?

An insider threat is any malicious or accidental action taken by an employee, contractor, or business partner or other trusted agent that results in unauthorized use, disclosure, destruction, or modification of data. This can be anything from an employee intentionally leaking company information to accidentally disclosing sensitive data.

Why should you care?

Insider threats can result in significant financial and reputational damage to a company. In fact, according to the 2020 Ponemon Institute’s Cost of Insider Threats report, the average cost of an insider threat is $11.45 million. Furthermore, insider threats often go undetected for months, which can result in increased damage.

Tip #1: Create a comprehensive security policy

Creating a comprehensive security policy is crucial to prevent insider threats. This policy should include clear guidelines for handling sensitive data, how data should be accessed, and what employees should and shouldn’t do. Additionally, you should conduct regular training sessions to ensure that your employees understand the policy and are familiar with the best practices mentioned in it.

Tip #2: Implement access controls

Limiting access to sensitive company information can help prevent unauthorized access. Implementing access controls and ensuring that employees only have access to the information that is necessary for their job function can minimize the risk of insider threats. Similarly, regularly reviewing and updating access controls can also help prevent risks.

Tip #3: Monitor employee activity

Regular monitoring of employee activity can help identify suspicious behavior before it becomes a threat. It can also help you detect any insider threats early on, enabling you to take corrective measures.

Tip #4: Foster a culture of transparency

Encourage your employees to report any suspicious or unusual behavior they come across. Creating a culture where employees can openly share their concerns can help identify and address potential threats quickly.

Conclusion

While there is no foolproof method to prevent insider threats, implementing the tips mentioned in this article can help enhance your joint staff’s awareness of such threats and reduce the risk of them occurring. A comprehensive security policy, access controls, regular monitoring of employee activity, and fostering a culture of transparency are all critical components in preventing insider threats. Remember, it’s always better to be proactive than to wait for an incident to occur.