Methods to prevent insider threats
Insider threats pose a serious threat to any place of business. Most think that outside threat are terrible and will take down an organization, truth is, the insider threat is the most damaging. They are already inside the organization and have access to valuable information others do not. Insiders know the placement of confidential files and how to access servers and other information systems. 
Please Prevent Insider Threats
There are ways to avoid falling victim to insider threats. Here are some of those ways:
- Enforce Least Privilege Access Control
There should be a “Rule of least privilege” which means only granting access to users/administrators for that which they need to do their job effectively. A junior network administrator does not need domain admin-level access to Active Directory. Likewise, the Active Directory admin does not need root-level access to the core switch. In enforcing these least privilege conditions, you eliminate the possibility of someone doing something they should not and/or accidentally causing an outage. Run audits even to check user and admin accounts status.
- Change Passwords Often
Password management should be enforced throughout an organization’s infrastructure period. Let us say there is a case of users needing access to a SCIF, each time a user leaves the organization or the program, the SCIF door code should be changed. Maybe this all sounds repetitive, but you can never be safe and always must take that approach to not be sorry. The same goes for applications and servers that are sensitive. John Doe leaves the company, change the password. In fact, one of the best things you can do in situations where a user is terminated, disable that users account immediately. Do an audit of their accesses and ensure that all necessary passwords are changed.
- Employ a Separation of Duties Rule
Employing separation of duties is one of the most effective methods to prevent insider threats. Instead of a pool of administrators having domain/root-level access to all network resources, their accesses should be determined by their job role. The domain administrator for Windows Servers needs access to all things Windows; they do not, however, need root access to the Linux servers. You can have separation of duties while ensuring cross-collaboration is in effect as well.
- Vet All Prospective Candidates
Human resources and the recruiters in an organization need to vet their prospective candidates thoroughly. Each interviewer plays a vital role in making sure that the candidate is solid technically as well as having a sense of trust too. Of course, it’s’ not always the easiest to detect an insider threat before they come on board. threats are not always shadowy characters in a black hat, they can take the form of careless workers that make grave mistakes. Candidates that exude qualities such as attention to detail, timeliness, and honesty are who you should be looking for.
Learn and Adapt
Taking these precautions does not stop insider threats from happening as even the MOST secure measures in place are prone to having some cracks or someone finding a way to bypass security. However, it is again, better to be safe than sorry, and taking these measures does indeed, lower the chances of insider threat risk. In situations where insider threats cost an organization, it is a perfect learning opportunity on how to prevent future threats. Paying close attention to the signs, and taking the necessary precautions, your organization can protect themselves against insider threats and carry on.
Remember. Your Business Matters. Protect It.
“Most think that outside threat are terrible and will take down an organization, truth is, the insider threat is the most damaging. They are already inside the organization and have access to valuable information others do not. Insiders know the placement of confidential files and how to access servers and other information systems.”
