What is an insider threat?

An insider threat refers specifically to the risk that originates from individuals within the organization, such as current or former employees, contractors, or business partners, who have inside information concerning the organization's security practices, data, and computer systems. These individuals might misuse their access by stealing sensitive data, sabotaging systems, or committing fraud, often because they possess legitimate access rights or knowledge about the internal workings of the organization.

This concept is distinct from risks posed by external hackers, which involves threats that originate outside the organization. Insider threats are often more challenging to detect and mitigate because these individuals already have an understanding of the organization's infrastructure, making their actions potentially more damaging.