What is a key characteristic of an insider threat incident?

A key characteristic of an insider threat incident is unauthorized access by an employee. Insider threats originate from individuals within the organization who have legitimate access to resources but misuse that access for malicious purposes. This type of incident can involve a range of activities, including data theft, fraud, or intentional damage to systems and data.

The nature of insider threats is particularly challenging to manage because these individuals typically have knowledge about the organization’s security protocols, making their actions harder to detect compared to external threats. Their access can allow them to bypass security measures that protect against outside attacks. Therefore, those who work within the organization pose a unique risk which is crucial for incident handlers to monitor and mitigate.