Security News > 2022 > January > How costly is an insider threat?

Notably, on average, impacted organizations spent $15.4 million annually on overall insider threat remediation and took 85 days to contain each incident.

The report reveals that over the last two years, the frequency and costs associated with insider threats have increased dramatically across all three insider threat categories, including: careless or negligent employees/contractors, criminal or malicious insiders, and cybercriminal credential theft.

"Months of sustained remote and hybrid working leading up to"The Great Resignation" has resulted in an increased risk around insider threat incidents, as people leave organizations and take data with them," said Ryan Kalember, EVP of cybersecurity strategy at Proofpoint.

Organizational insiders, including employees, contractors, and third-party vendors, are an attractive attack vector for cybercriminals due to their far-reaching access to critical systems, data, and infrastructure. With people now the new perimeter, we recommend layered defenses, including a dedicated insider threat management solution and strong security awareness training, to provide the best protection against these types of risks."

Insider threat costs and trends Organizations impacted by insider threats spent an average of $15.4 million annually-that's up 34 percent from $11.45 million in 2020.

56% of reported insider threat incidents were the result of a careless employee or contractor, costing on average $484,931 per incident.

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https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/01/31/insider-threat-costs/