Beware of the Insider Threat

This was written by Michael Cheek on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 12:09.

A significant percentage of employees would be willing to steal data from their company, according to a recent survey conducted by Cyber-Ark. Over 40 percent of respondents have already stolen information and brought it to a new company.

The survey found that employees are feeling less loyal to their present employer, and as a result, appear more willing to purloin data if they believe it will benefit them. The majority of those employees willing to take data say they would take it ‘just in case.’

The study also found that protection mechanisms for corporate data have not significantly increased. It is still remarkably easy to steal data without getting caught. Of those surveyed, around 60 percent said that it was easy to take corporate data without their bosses knowledge.

In the age when criminals and foreign nations are using cyberspace to steal intellectual property, the threat from insiders is often overlooked.