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What are insider threat programs? What functions do insider threat programs fulfill? 

What are insider threat programs? What functions do insider threat programs fulfill?

In January, three people were sentenced to prison for stealing software and sensitive information law enforcement databases from the US government for profiting by selling the information.

When incidents like these occur, organizations are forced to reevaluate the measures that they have taken against the risk of insider threats.

It is where insider threat programs come into picture. Let us explore what insider threat programs are and some of the essential functions fulfilled by insider threat programs.

What are insider threat programs? 

Insider threats are risks and threats formed when any person with an understanding of an organization or authorized access to organization’s resources causes harm to an organization through malicious or complacent use of that knowledge and access.   

Insider threat programs are comprehensive programs for the prevention, detection and response to insider threats.  Their main purpose is to detect and address potential risk indicators and behaviours and balance managing of insider risks with needs of an organization. It seeks to identify all the areas in an organization that might be exposed to risk of insider threat.  

It is an organization-wide program that provides a critical mechanism for individuals within an organization to be aware, report and act against insider threats with the right policies, procedures, training, processes and management.  

Why is security report assessment of third party important? 

Since vendors and contractors form an essential part of an organization’s insiders, any form of third-party compromise of an organization’s sensitive information assets can have a disastrous impact on an organization. Therefore, it is essential to ensure periodical security assessment and reporting of threats.

What are the essential components of insider threat programs? 

For an insider threat program to be effective in detection, identification, response and prevention of insider, it is important to ensure its critical components.   

As per CISA an effective insider threat program will comprise 10 of the components which are the following: 

It must:

Principles and standards must align with business and culture

An insider threats program must comprise principles and standards with the purpose, goals, and objectives aligning with the business and its culture.  

A prioritized list of critical assets

It must comprise a list of all the physical, digital, and intellectual assets that are essential for business and operations whose compromise can cause an adverse impact on business. 

Latest threats and their impact

A detailed description and definition of prevailing threats and how they might affect an organization is a must in an insider threat program. 

Detect and identify threats

It must provide a means to detect and identify indicators of potential risks of insider threats.  

Incident response plan

An insider threat program must comprise a comprehensive incident response plan for responding to insider threats or incidents caused by insider threats. 

Committee for governance and leadership

It must have a committee of stakeholders that are dedicated to the governance and leadership of the insider threat program. 

Organization culture

It must have a detailed description of an organization’s culture, with emphasis on encouraging reporting of potential threats, incidents, indicators, or concerns with confidentiality and anonymity. 

Centralized hub for insider threat information

The program must contain a centralized hub for the collection, integration analysis, and storage of all elements and information specific to insider threats. 

Threat Management Team

It must define a threat management team for the assessment, response, and management of potential insider threats. 

Training

The program must define in detail a training program that teaches the importance of identifying and reporting potential threats and the role of an individual in ensuring security. 

What functions do insider threat programs fulfill? 

The following are the primary functions fulfilled by an insider threat program: 

Securing the most critical information assets  

One of the primary functions of insider threat programs is to identify and secure the most critical information assets. It involves identifying all the assets that are critical and might have a negative impact on the business and its operation upon compromise.  

Limiting or monitoring access across multiple organizational functions 

It mitigates the possibility of malicious/unauthenticated use or access to an organization’s resources by an insider by defining controls that limit and monitor access across multiple organizational functions.    

Establishing practices and systems for limiting insider damage 

It ensures that an organization engages in practices and implements systems dedicated to reducing the impact and limiting the damage caused by an insider threat. It establishes practices and systems dedicated to insider threat mitigation, it serves the function of insider risk management.  

Assisting organizations to proactively prevent, detect, and respond to insider threats 

By providing the means to detect and respond to insider threats, risks, and behavior, an insider threat program plays a critical role in assisting organizations to pre-emptively address insider threats before they become major threats.  It assists organizations to be prepared and effectively respond to insider threats. 

Establishing a culture of awareness  

Insider threat program plays a critical role in establishing a culture where people are aware of the different kinds of insider risks. It seeks to make people more aware of the indicators of insider risks and how to address them and report them. It helps organizations to bridge awareness gaps through training. 

Reducing the possibility of complacency  

 It serves the function of providing a means to establish an environment where people are made aware of the risks associated with insider threats. 

Ensures smooth management and appropriation of actions 

It provides a mechanism for smoother management of activities relating to inside threat mitigation with a detailed description of actions to be taken along with reporting and responsibilities.  

Learn more about insider threat risks and mitigation

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