South Africa experiences 308 commercial crimes per day – and that’s just the crimes that are reported. Many crimes go undiscovered.
One of the most insidious dangers businesses face is insider risks. Individuals with access to sensitive systems and data can compromise an organisation’s security in ways that external attackers cannot, whether through malicious intent or inadvertent mistakes. Understanding how to identify, mitigate, and combat these threats is crucial for any business looking to protect its operations, reputation, and sensitive information.
How insiders escape detection
An alarming aspect of insider threats is that they bypass traditional security measures. Many organisations invest heavily in firewalls, endpoint protection, and network monitoring to detect and prevent external attacks, yet fail to apply the same scrutiny to their employees and privileged accounts. This oversight can have catastrophic consequences, as insiders can exfiltrate data, manipulate systems, and facilitate access for external attackers.
An insider attack often involves someone with deep knowledge of the company’s systems, letting them blend in with normal activities. An IT administrator with extensive access to sensitive databases could misuse their credentials to exfiltrate data without triggering alerts. Alternatively, they may cover their tracks by deleting logs or using legitimate tools to mask their actions. An external attacker may also exploit employees through social engineering, bribery, or coercion, turning them into unwitting accomplices.
Mitigating risks
The first step in combating insider threats is recognising they are a real and growing risk. Organisations should implement a robust insider threat detection and prevention strategy that includes monitoring privileged users and ensuring visibility into unusual behaviours. This requires more than traditional security tools; it demands proactive measures, human oversight, and advanced analytics.
One critical measure is enforcing strict access controls. Limiting access to sensitive systems and data on a need-to-know basis reduces the risk of insider threats. Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions can require additional authentication layers and approvals before granting access to critical assets. A dual-control system, where two individuals must approve high-risk actions, adds security. While this may slightly slow operations, the trade-off in enhanced security is worth it.
Continuous monitoring of privileged accounts is crucial. Standard detection tools often fail to differentiate between legitimate administrative activities and malicious behaviour by privileged users. Organisations can quickly detect deviations indicating suspicious actions by establishing activity baselines for each user and setting up tailored alerts. These alerts should be continuously refined to minimise false positives while ensuring swift responses to genuine threats.
Beyond human monitors, organisations must scrutinise their security and IT tools. Attackers are adept at leveraging these tools against businesses, using them to deploy malware, erase evidence, or exfiltrate data undetected. Even the best defences are useless if an organisation’s security tools are compromised.
To mitigate this risk, companies should implement multiple layers of visibility. Another essential practice is to establish environmental baselines for security tools. By monitoring the normal behaviour of IT and security systems, organisations can set up alerts for deviations that may indicate tampering. Anomalies like unusual spikes in network traffic, unexpected data transfers, or unauthorised software executions should trigger immediate investigations.
Periodic threat hunting is vital in detecting insider threats. While automated security tools provide continuous monitoring, they cannot replace the insight of skilled cybersecurity professionals searching for signs of compromise. Proactive threat hunting, particularly within privileged accounts and security tools, can reveal hidden indicators of an insider attack before significant damage occurs.
Dark web monitoring in particular is crucial for early detection. Cybercriminals often trade stolen data, credentials, and insider access on underground forums before a breach becomes apparent. By continuously scanning the dark web, businesses can identify if their data has been exfiltrated or is targeted for an attack. Cybercom Africa offers this service as part of its cybersecurity solutions, letting organisations respond swiftly to potential threats before they escalate into breaches.
How Cybercom Africa can help
Privileged accounts, security tools, and IT systems are prime targets because compromising them grants access to an organisation’s digital assets. The best way to combat this is by monitoring the human and technical monitors to ensure those protecting the organisation are under appropriate scrutiny.
As insider threats rise, businesses must shift from reactive to proactive security. Cybercom Africa is ready to assist businesses in identifying and mitigating these risks, ensuring resilience against insider threats.