Definition:
An insider threat occurs when someone within an organization, such as an employee, contractor, or business partner, deliberately or accidentally causes harm to the organization by exposing or damaging sensitive data.
Use Cases:
- Used by organizations to detect and mitigate risks posed by malicious or negligent insiders.
- Employed in industries dealing with sensitive data, such as healthcare and finance, to protect against internal threats.
Related Terms:
Questions and Answers:
- What are the common types of insider threats?
Insider threats can be categorized into malicious insiders, who intentionally cause harm, and negligent insiders, who unintentionally expose or compromise data.
- How can organizations protect against insider threats?
Organizations can implement access control policies, monitor user activity, and use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to detect suspicious behavior.
- Why are insider threats difficult to detect?
Insider threats are challenging to detect because they originate from trusted individuals who have legitimate access to the organization's systems and data.