What is an Insider Threat?

Insider Threat Explained

Insider threats in cybersecurity are risks originating from within an organization, often involving individuals with legitimate access to systems and data. These threats can be intentional or unintentional, leading to compromises in data confidentiality, availability, and integrity. This glossary delves into the various aspects of insider threats, including types, detection methods, protection strategies, and a dedicated section on Insider Email Threats.

Types of Insider Threats

Malicious Insider Threats

Malicious insiders have nefarious intent, aiming to exploit their privileged access for personal gain or harm. They include two categories:

• Collaborator: Authorized users who conspire with external entities (competitors, nation-states, criminals) to harm the organization, potentially leaking confidential information or disrupting operations.

• Lone Wolf: Independent insiders who misuse their access, often possessing privileged roles like database administrators, without external influence.

Careless Insider Threats

Careless insiders pose threats inadvertently due to human errors, poor judgment, convenience, or ignorance. This category encompasses:

• Pawn: Authorized users manipulated into unintentionally acting maliciously, often through tactics like spear phishing.

• Goof: Insiders who take potentially harmful actions without malicious intent, driven by arrogance, ignorance, or incompetence.

Compromised Insider Threats

Compromised insiders are legitimate users whose credentials have been stolen by external threat actors. They unwittingly facilitate insider threats by enabling attackers to access systems using their compromised credentials.

A Mole (Outsider with Insider Access)

Although not traditional insiders, moles are outsiders who gain insider access to an organization's systems by impersonating vendors, partners, contractors, or employees.

How to Detect an Insider Threat

Detecting insider threats requires vigilance and an understanding of behavioral and digital indicators

Behavioral Indicators

• Dissatisfaction or disgruntlement among employees, contractors, or partners.
• Attempts to bypass security measures.
• Irregular working hours or off-hours access.
• Resentment toward colleagues.
• Frequent violations of organizational policies.
• Expressions of resignation or discussions of new job opportunities.
  
  

Digital Indicators

• Unusual login times, such as signing in at odd hours.
• Abnormal spikes in network traffic.
• Unauthorized access to resources or data.
• Repetitive requests for access to irrelevant system resources.
• Use of unauthorized devices like USB drives.
• Network crawling or targeted searches for sensitive information.
• Sending sensitive information via email outside the organization.
  
  

Examples of Insider Threats

Real-world examples illustrate the significant damage insider threats can inflict:

• A Facebook security engineer exploited privileged information to stalk individuals online.
• A disgruntled Tesla employee sabotaged company systems and leaked proprietary information.
• In the Capital One data breach, a former Amazon engineer exploited inside knowledge to breach the system.
• A former Google executive stole trade secrets and shared them with a new employer, Uber.

Protecting Against Insider Attacks

To defend against insider threats, organizations should adopt multifaceted strategies:

• Identify and prioritize critical assets, including data, systems, and personnel.
• Establish baselines for normal user and device behavior, enabling the detection of anomalies.
• Enhance visibility through continuous monitoring and analytics.
• Enforce clear security policies and educate personnel.
• Promote a security-aware culture through training and awareness programs.

Insider Threat Detection Solutions

Several tools and practices aid in the detection and prevention of insider threats:

• Ongoing employee training to enhance security awareness.
• Implementation of Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions.
• Utilization of User Behavior Analytics (UBA) to detect abnormal activities.
• Offensive security measures like phishing simulations and red teaming exercises.

Email-based Insider Threats

Tactics Used in Insider Email Threats: Insider email threats encompass tactics like phishing, spear phishing, email impersonation, and social engineering. Attackers exploit compromised accounts to exfiltrate data or spread malware within the organization.

Ways to Protect Against Insider Email Threats: Protection against insider email threats involves robust email security measures, including:

• Implementing email authentication protocols like DMARC.
• Educating users to identify phishing attempts.
• Deploying advanced email security solutions for threat detection and mitigation.
• Regularly updating and patching email systems to strengthen defenses against insider email threats.

IRONSCALES Automatically Detects Insider Threats with AI and Machine Learning

IRONSCALES leverages AI and Machine Learning to combat insider threats originating from compromised emails within organizations.

• AI-Powered Phishing Detection: IRONSCALES employs AI algorithms to identify phishing emails, including those impersonating trusted users within an organization, enhancing email security.
• Machine Learning Behavioral Analysis: ML models continuously monitor user behavior and email interactions to establish baselines for normal activity, enabling prompt detection of suspicious activities.
• Integration with Threat Intelligence: IRONSCALES integrates with threat intelligence feeds to recognize known insider threat patterns, providing proactive defense against evolving threats.
• User Education: The platform natively integrates and prioritizes user education to help employees identify potential insider threats with personalized simulated spear phishing attacks that leverage sophisticated social engineering-based insider threat tactics. 

Learn more about IRONSCALES advanced anti-phishing platform here. Get a demo of IRONSCALES™ today!  https://ironscales.com/get-a-demo/