Insider Threat Prevention: 3 Tips and 6 Software For SMBs

According to GetApp’s 2023 Insider Threats survey*, the average cost for a business facing an insider attack is $262,138. But, the cost is not the question. It’s how to identify insider threats early on. In fact, 29% of business leaders report that it took them three to six months, and 25% say one to three months, to detect an insider threat within their organization.

Insider threats in cyber security aren't just from negligent employees but also include contractors and third-party vendors. That's why we're sharing tips and software recommendations from Gartner [1] to help you spot and stop insider threats before they harm your business. But first, let's delve into the “rule of three”.

Gartner's “rule of three” for insider threats is a simple and practical way to look at an insider risk program. It helps leaders and IT security managers understand insider threat types, threat activities, and mitigation goals.

Insider threats usually fall into one of three categories:

• Careless users: These are staff members who, without meaning to, expose important or confidential company information. This could happen through mistakes or not setting up systems properly.

• Malicious users: These are individuals within your business who deliberately try to harm the company or steal data, maybe for personal reasons or to make money.

• Compromised credentials: Sometimes, a staff member’s login details can be used by someone else, either from within or outside your business, to steal information or cause damage.

There are also three main types of activities that are considered insider threats because they break company rules or laws:

• Fraud: This includes things like phishing (tricking employees into giving away information) or stealing money from the company.

• Data theft: This could be stealing client lists or confidential company information.

• System sabotage: Actions like introducing harmful software (malware or ransomware), locking people out of accounts, or deleting important data.

On a macro level, the “rule of three” also helps mitigate these insider threats and risks.

• Deter people from wanting to commit these acts in the first place.

• Detect when something is doing something suspicious.

• Disrupt any harmful actions that are detected.

To manage insider threats effectively, small to midsize organizations need a combination of the right team, clear processes, and the appropriate technology. All three are essential to safeguard your business.

For small to midsize businesses, dealing with insider threats isn't just a job for the IT department. It requires active participation from the top levels of the company, including executives, the legal team, and HR, so that they can provide strategic guidance and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

This wide-ranging support is crucial because those in charge of technology will need help from other departments to enforce rules like confidentiality agreements and data access policies.

They will also need to stay informed about changes in staff such as promotions or department changes, contractor roles like new hires or contract renewals, and vendor access to critical systems or sensitive data.

Create a team that includes members from different parts of your business such as finance, operations, and customer service to spot potential high-risk individuals early. More than half of business leaders per our survey* report having a dedicated insider threat security team.

It's important to have a confidential and formal way for managers, business leaders, and HR to inform the IT security team about any disciplinary actions, firings, or resignations involving employees or contractors.

Situations like these can sometimes lead an employee, contractor, or vendor to steal important company data—such as client information or trade secrets—or damage your business’s systems through actions like installing malware or corrupting databases.

By having a cross-functional team and a clear process for communication, you can better protect your business from these kinds of insider threats.

Both Gartner and our 2023 insider threats survey* show how important it is to ensure that any contracts with business partners include clauses for insider threat protection that align with your organization’s standards or regulatory needs.

You should have the ability to restrict access for users who pose a risk to your business, without necessarily needing to end the contract.

Part of your strategy should include educating your employees about insider threats. Encourage them to report any suspicious behavior and provide confidential ways for them to do so.

Make it clear that employee activities are monitored for safety reasons. Our survey* shows positive signs of employee cooperation.

Use these automated tools and technology that focus on user behavior for easier risk management. Especially if your business doesn’t have a dedicated insider threat program. 

1. Data loss prevention software. It prevents sensitive data from leaving your network. It flags or blocks the transfer of important information outside the company by encrypting it, which is crucial to prevent data theft.

Enforced encryption easy lock for prevention of data loss in Endpoint Protector DLP software (Source)

2. Endpoint protection platform. It secures each device in your network (like computers and smartphones). It detects and responds to threats like malware, which insiders might use to harm your systems.

Get a complete overview of connected devices and security risks in your network in ESET Endpoint Security (Source)

3. Identity access management system. It manages user access to your systems. By controlling who has access to what, you can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information. Authorized users when accessing their devices, are always asked to confirm their identity via a push notification.

Identity confirmation push notification from DUO security (Source)

4. Mobile device management software. It lets you oversee and secure employees' mobile devices. It’s particularly useful to prevent data breaches from lost or stolen devices.

Monitor in-depth details of each mobile device and their user on your business network via Rippling MDM software (Source)

5. Multifactor authentication software. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring additional verification beyond just a password such as OTP or email verification. It makes it much harder for an unauthorized person to gain access to your systems.

Additional verification layer of security via Google multi-factor authenticator (Source)

6. Privileged access management software. It restricts access to your most critical systems and data ensuring only authorized and necessary users have high-level access privileges.

Allow, restrict, and manage every user’s access with ease via ManageEngine Access Manager Plus (Source)

While these tools are essential to identify risks, remember that human oversight is necessary to respond effectively to alerts and within your governance framework.

Gartner believes that not all signs of insider threats are linked to technology. Physical behaviors can also be red flags. Look out for these insider threat indicators.

These signs, especially when combined with other factors, can indicate a potential insider threat. Use technologies like video cameras and card readers to monitor these behaviors.

To combat insider threats, focus on both low-cost and no-cost strategies:

• Insider threat awareness training: Teach employees about the signs of insider threats and how to report them. Use security awareness training or Learning Management Systems (LMS) to deliver this training.

• Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policies: Include guidelines for the secure use of personal devices at work. Use policy management software to create, distribute, and enforce these policies.

• Identify erratic behavior: Monitor for unusual employee behavior that could indicate a threat. Applied behavior analytics software can be used to detect such patterns.

• Monitor logs: Regularly review system and network logs for suspicious activities. Use log management and analysis software to automate this process.

• Vendor management: Ensure vendors comply with your security policies. Vendor management software can help track and manage these relationships.

• Wi-Fi security: Secure your wireless networks to prevent unauthorized access. Implement network security solutions that include encryption and insider threat detection systems.

Monitoring all user activities against established baselines can be prohibitively expensive and time-consuming, especially without dedicated security teams.

An effective alternative is to partner with a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), which allows SMEs to navigate these resource challenges more effectively.

Even in situations where budget constraints make MSSP services unfeasible, you can still focus on monitoring high-risk accounts. It's crucial to define what "high risk" means for your business. Identify and keep a watchful eye on high-risk targets and their activities.

High-risk status might arise from changes in normal behavior patterns or employment status. Once the risk is mitigated, these accounts should be removed from heightened monitoring.

Consider these insider threat examples of high-risk accounts:

• Administrative accounts: These have extensive access privileges, making them attractive targets for misuse or external compromise.

• Contractors: Their temporary status and access to internal systems can pose a security risk if not monitored properly.

• Employees changing departments: Transitioning employees might have access to sensitive information from both their old and new departments.

• Employees connecting after hours: This could indicate unauthorized access or activities occurring outside normal working hours.

• Employees with disciplinary or performance notices: Discontent or disgruntlement can lead to malicious insider activities.

• Third-party partners: They often have necessary, but potentially risky, access to your systems and data.

• Service accounts: These accounts, often automated, can be exploited due to their elevated privileges and access levels.

• Employees who have submitted resignations: They might misuse their access before departure, potentially taking sensitive data with them.

Also, monitor key activities in your business. Establish baseline metrics to compare against. Significant deviations in these suggested areas by Gartner could signal potential threats:

• Average data egress to devices: High volumes of data transfer to personal devices can indicate attempts to exfiltrate data.

• Average access requests blocked per account: An increase in blocked access attempts might suggest unauthorized or risky activities.

• Average web traffic by account: Unusual web traffic patterns can be a sign of malicious activities or data leaks.

• Average number of email attachments: An uptick could suggest attempts to send sensitive information outside the company.

• Average email attachment size: Larger-than-normal attachments might indicate data exfiltration attempts.

• Average data sent to third-party storage: Excessive use of external storage services can be a sign of data being improperly shared or stored.

Focus on these high-risk elements for insider threat mitigation without overextending your limited resources. This targeted approach allows for efficient monitoring and intervention where it's most needed.

If you’ve read this far, chances are good you are about to explore vendors for software technology we’ve suggested. In fact, you should. Gartner researchers say that by 2025, insider risk will cause 50% of organizations to adopt formal insider risk prevention programs, up from just 10% today. [1]

But, they also caution that unverified vendors could pose serious insider threats. Nearly 20% of business leaders per our survey* say third-party vendors were actively involved during insider threats on their business. 

However, GetApp is trusted to list software vendors only after a thorough evaluation of their offerings and security policies. Nevertheless, if you’d like to take charge, fill in the details below and download GetApp’s free software vendor evaluation template.

It gives you a comparison chart to score up to three vendors and give them a score in discussion with your key team members. The vendor with the highest total score should be the best choice for your business.