We often view employees as victims. But what if they are the threat? The "Malicious Insider" is the nightmare scenario for every CISO. Human Risk Management isn't just about training; it's about detection.
The Spectrum of Risk
Insider threats aren't always James Bond villains. They fall on a spectrum:
- The Negligent: Clicks a link, leaves a laptop unlocked. (80%)
- The Disgruntled: Passed over for promotion, wants to "get even." (15%)
- The Malicious: Stealing IP for a competitor. (5%)
Behavioral Indicators
Traditional DLP (Data Loss Prevention) tools look for data leaving. Autonomous HRM looks for the intent before the data moves.
Sudden drop in simulation performance (Sign of disengagement).
Reporting spikes (False positives to annoy the SOC).
Accessing sensitive policy documents (Severance packages, IP logs).
The Role of Culture
The best defense against a malicious insider is a positive security culture. When security is seen as a partner rather than a policeman, disgruntlement decreases.
Learn how to measure culture in our Human Risk Score Guide.
