What is an Insider Threat?
Insider threat detection involves identifying, monitoring, and mitigating risks posed by individuals within an organization who may become threats, whether intentionally or unintentionally. These insiders—employees, contractors, or partners—have access to sensitive data, systems, and physical spaces.
The risks are significant: while access to private information, business-sensitive data, and intellectual property (like patents or source code) may be necessary for certain roles, any unauthorized sharing or misuse can cause substantial financial and reputational damage. Disgruntled employees may go further, stealing credentials, leaking confidential information, or even destroying critical data, potentially crippling the organization.
The Ponemon Institute’s 2023 Cost of Insider Threats Global Report highlights the growing danger: the average cost of an insider threat incident has surged to $15.38 million, a 31% increase over two years, with incident frequency up by 47%. As insider threats become more common, robust detection and prevention are more critical than ever.