Have you heard the term “Insider Threat”? In the world of cybersecurity, this phrase characterizes a risk originating from within an organization. It typically arises when a current or former employee, contractor, or vendor armed with legitimate credentials misuses their access to compromise networks, systems, and valuable data. While it’s understandable that a disgruntled employee might steal data for nefarious purposes, even an employee falling victim to a phishing attack is considered an insider threat, placing the organization at risk due to poor judgment. In this blog, we share some steps you can apply to your practice to safeguard your clinic against insider threats.
The Stats
Experts found that insider breaches accounted for 32% of incidents with compromised confidential records, establishing them as a major contributor to data breaches. Apart from accidental credential disclosures, there are instances where attackers entice employees with compensation in exchange for company data.
Although tools exist to monitor unusual employee activity, these systems are often costly and complex, designed primarily for large organizations.
Steps to Prevent Insider Threats
Here are five proactive steps you can implement in your practice to significantly mitigate the risk of insider threats:
- Leverage Modern Desktop Anti-Malware Solutions: Take advantage of modern desktop anti-malware solutions designed to detect unusual activity. These solutions are instrumental in blocking malicious software, unauthorized programs, and access to dangerous websites.
- Prioritize Ongoing Cybersecurity Training: Cultivate a cybersecurity-first mindset among your staff through continuous cybersecurity training. This empowers employees and reduces susceptibility to phishing attacks.
- Monitor Employee Behaviour: Keep a vigilant eye on staff behaviour for signs of unusual activity. Pay attention to sudden information access requests, odd working hours, or signs of dissatisfaction that might indicate potential insider threats.
- Ensure Swift Account Management: Implement immediate account lockout, disablement, or deletion upon employee termination or exit. This helps prevent lingering access and reduces the risk of unauthorized entry.
- Explore Management Services for Insider Detection: Consider cost-effective managed services that provide insider detection tools. These services enable cybersecurity professionals to watch your systems, identifying and mitigating inside threats efficiently.
Defending against an insider threat may initially feel like a daunting challenge, with concerns about surveillance akin to a “big brother watching” concept. However, as data becomes an increasingly valuable commodity (especially sensitive patient data) and easily transferable without proper security measures, the responsibility to protect this information falls on all of us.
If you have questions or need assistance protecting your practice against insider threats, please contact us at info@securesolutionsnow.com. Together, let’s ensure that your organization remains resilient against the unseen threats within the digital landscape.
