Internal Threat - Risks and Countermeasures

Many of us were told the story of Benedict Arnold. If you are unfamiliar, Benedict Arnold was the U.S. Army officer during the Revolutionary War who turned traitor. Benedict conducted secret propositions with the British that could have cost the U.S. the war and changed history. Fortunately, Benedict's plot was uncovered and the British were defeated. This type of threat has not changed much since the days of Benedict Arnold. Not only does it continue today, but technology has also made it more prevalent. Considering the recent media attention given Internet-based attack, it is no wonder why many organizations are so focused on firewall and web server security. As a result, many organizations fail to realize the looming threat of attack from the inside. This document will show that such failure can be quite costly. Additionally, this document will cover the risks associated with insider threat. Last, this document will provide practical counter-measures, which should challenge the reader to focus on the people and processes that protect information rather than technology.