Across all companies and departments, insider threats are on the rise. When companies traditionally look outwards for security threats, they should be looking inwards towards their most trusted asset, employees. Employees have access to sensitive information, especially in customer service. Employees can have negligent or malicious intentions; meaning they can exploit sensitive data knowingly or without knowing. Traditional methods – like firewalls – are almost obsolete when mitigating these types of threats, because trusted insiders already have privileged access and know the company’s ‘hurt’ points. Lucky, the insider threat is gaining awareness and technology is now adapting. Here are six mitigation technologies to know.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
DLP is a set of rules and processes to keep sensitive data safe. This technology takes action by classifying critical data, then setting violation procedures to mitigate a threat quickly. DLP is built upon basic principles like customizable alerts, monitoring, encryption and other useful prevention methods. DLP has a strong history in risk mitigation, but it is now becoming more regularly used in conjunction with insider threat prevention. As the technology becomes more robust, DLP can better target sensitive data composites and actively watch for a breach.
Machine Learning
Preventional DLP technologies are taken a step further with machine learning. Machine learning is a robust artificial intelligence software that detects patterns using algorithms. A user’s malicious actions can be spread across multiple data points and systems. This makes the process of quick detection difficult to see. Machine learning uses identifiable algorithms to look for anomalies across data systems. Coupled with user behavior analytics, deviations in insider threat behavior can be detected quickly.
User Behavior Analytics
This technology creates patterns of normal user and machine behavior; logged into the monitoring software. Data collected is used to create a baseline of normal behavior. Once this behavior deviates widely, the threat can be addressed.
User Activity Monitoring
Built upon DLP and user behavior analytics, the insider threat can be better mitigated with user activity monitoring. This type of software narrows in on user behavior and meta data allowing for true visibility into an employee’s actions. Many insider threat incidents are due to negligence; opening phishing emails. Monitoring can be used as a training technology to alert the employee when an action is unsuitable or train for better security threat mitigation in the future.
Privileged Access Management
The privileged user is the individual that has direct oversight to manipulate and influence a company’s data. Privileged Access Management (PAM) is the software that helps you prevent misuse of privileged access by these users. With admin controls, an insider threat can divulge and manipulate data at will. PAM monitors and authorizes privilege users in all important systems across the company. This software is one of most foundational to insider threat mitigation.
This article was originally published on IT Security Central and was reprinted with permission.
