Ostra
  • Email Sign Up
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Technology
  • Clients
  • Partners
  • About
    • Careers
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

The Hidden Dangers of Insider Threats

May 2, 2023/in Security /by 0stRa

Possibly one of the most underrated catalysts for a cyberattack is the insider threat. Take a look at some recent statistics:

  • An article by Identity Management Institute stated that 65-70% of all security incidents arise from insider threats to system and data security.
  • According to IBM Security Intelligence, 40% of insider incidents involve an employee with privileged access to company assets.

Many companies do not account for the damage that an insider threat could do. An insider threat can be anyone with access to an organization’s network, like employees, contractors, business associates, or friends. Insider threats are the biggest contributors to cyberattacks, especially in the last couple of years.

22% of all folders were available to every employee. (Varonis)

What is an insider threat?

An insider threat is anyone who has special access to the organization and can possibly use that access to attack or help hackers target the company. There are a few different types of insider threats to be aware of: malicious insiders, inside agents, emotional employees, reckless employees, and third-party users. Each one of these types of insider threats all could have access to an organization in some way and can use it to their advantage.

Insider threat attacks have only been growing in the past years and experts predict that number to skyrocket as more businesses switch to remote work. The increasing mix of remote, hybrid, and on-site employees means that companies must be extra vigilant about managing network access and permissions. Even the most loyal employees who retire or leave on good terms should no longer have access to company files or systems after their last day. In addition, it is important to ensure that dissatisfied or disgruntled employees—whether they are still there, or were recently laid off—cannot use their access in retaliation against the company.

“The overall cost of insider threats is rapidly rising. There is a 31% increase from $8.76 million in 2018 to $11.45 million in 2020”. (Cost of Insider Threats Global Report)

Online Hygiene

Although cybersecurity has become a loaded concept, it’s important to make cybersecurity a priority. Good online hygiene should be part of any organization’s onboarding or off-boarding process, but if it not, then take it upon yourself to exercise best practices to keep your company safe.

Some basic precautions include performing regular software updates and enabling MFAs. You can also contact Ostra to explore how a cybersecurity assessment can reveal what vulnerabilities you may have, and how you can stay ahead of threats.

Avoiding Apathy

How can companies best protect their data from insider threats? While it is tempting to succumb to either apathy or paranoia, neither of these extremes is the right approach. Rather, awareness that leads to action is the goal. You can read more about this approach in Ostra’s blog about data privacy.

How to protect against insider threats?

  1. Update and maintain the user access/privileges list and be aware of which employees have access and to what—especially as you are onboarding new employees or removing access from departing employees.
  2. Ensure sensitive/confidential information is not accessible by anyone who does not need it.
  3. Educate employees on insider threats and how they can help defend against a possible attack.
  4. Implement a cybersecurity program that can defend immediately against any lurking vulnerabilities.

Ostra Cybersecurity provides active defense protection for your businesses’ data and acts immediately instead of monitoring and alerting as many antiviruses do. Ostra keeps everything up to date meaning the latest threats are already neutralized before they attack.

Want to find out more? Contact us today to see how Ostra can help you and your clients minimize risk from insider threats.

Tags: compromised, coronavirus, covid19, cyber, cyber security, cyber training, cyber warfare, cyberattack, cybercrime, cybersecurity, cybersecurity training, cyberthreat, cyberwarfare, dark web, exposed, extortion, hacking, hacking group, malware, nonprofit, ostra, ostra cybersecurity, password security, phishing, ransom, ransomeware, ransomware, remote, remote office cybersecurity, remote work, REvil, risk, scam, small business, small business cybersecurity, social engineering attack, spearphishing, Threat, training, twitter, unsecured network, virus, WFH, working from home
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
Number of Coronavirus-Related Scams Jump
Why One Data Breach Can Lead to More Cyber Attacks
Android Faces New Security Threat, Malware That Spreads Itself
60% of Organizations Experience Cyberattacks Spread by Their Employees
Ostra-legislation-security-standards-998x681px House Passes Legislation To Set Internet Of Things Security Standards
Over 100 Law Firms Report Data Breaches

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Recent Posts

  • Don’t Ignore the SIEM Who Cries ‘Alert’: The Importance of Thoroughly Investigating False Positives in Security Alerts 
  • The Hidden Dangers of Insider Threats
  • The Ostra Journey: Reflecting on 5 Amazing Years
  • Ostra Cybersecurity Expands Senior Leadership Team
  • Spot the Signs of Tax-Time Phishing Scams
  • Protecting What We Value: Why Data Privacy Is Worth the Effort
  • Ostra Cybersecurity Expands Partner Success Team
  • Ostra’s Year in Review
  • Ostra Cybersecurity Adds Director for Rapidly Expanding Channel Partner Network
  • Employee Spotlight: Eunice Asemnor, Security Analyst

Archives

Contact

Ostra Cybersecurity, Inc.
6101 Baker Rd
Suite 202
Minnetonka, MN 55345

contact@ostra.net    (866) 336-7872

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get Social

© 2023 Ostra Cybersecurity, Inc. -
  • Website Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Accept

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Privacy Policy

You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

Privacy Policy