Insider Threats: How to Protect Data from Your Own Employees
August 4, 2025 · 10 min read · System Networks
34% of data breaches involve internal actors — employees, contractors, former staff. Most are not malicious. 62% are negligence: wrong email recipient, personal cloud for work files, unlocked device left unattended.
3 Types of Insider Threat
62%
Negligent insider
Accidental errors: wrong email recipient, personal cloud for work files, unencrypted devices.
23%
Malicious insider
Intentional IP theft, leaking to competitors, sabotage. Usually upon resignation or financial stress.
14%
Compromised account
External attacker using employee credentials. From the system's perspective — an insider.
Technical Defence Stack
UEBA
Builds behavioural baselines per user. Alert: accountant downloads 10,000 files at 3am — obvious anomaly. Built into MaxPatrol SIEM, Kaspersky KATA.
DLP
Monitors all outbound channels: email, USB, cloud, printers. Blocks transmission of sensitive content.
PAM
Controls and records all admin actions. Least privilege principle. Just-in-Time access.
Session monitoring (optional)
Screen recording, application activity. Legally permissible with employee notification in employment contracts.
HR Measures That Actually Work
Insider threat assessment
Security audit with insider risk assessment →UEBA · DLP · PAM · Behavioural analytics · FSTEC licensed