Insider Threats: Detecting the Enemy Within

Insider threats are particularly dangerous because the attacker already has legitimate access to the network. They don't need to break in; they just need to log in.

Types of Insider Threats

• The Malicious Insider: An employee seeking revenge or financial gain (selling data).
• The Negligent Insider: An employee who bypasses security policies for convenience or falls for a scam.
• The Compromised Insider: An employee whose credentials have been stolen by an external attacker.

Methodology: Detection and Response

1. User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)

UEBA tools use machine learning to establish a baseline of "normal" behavior for every user and device. They then flag anomalies:

• Time Anomalies: Logging in at 3 AM when they usually work 9-5.
• Data Anomalies: Downloading gigabytes of data from a sensitive repository they rarely access.
• Location Anomalies: Logging in from a foreign country.

2. Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Strictly control and monitor administrative accounts. Use a PAM vault to rotate passwords automatically and record all sessions for audit purposes.

3. HR and IT Integration

Automate the offboarding process. When an employee is terminated in the HR system, their access to all IT systems should be revoked immediately and automatically.