Over time, the concept of insider risk has evolved to encompass threats that arise from individuals with authorized access to an organization or community, exploiting vulnerabilities in security protocols. These weaknesses can result from system flaws, human mistakes, employee negligence, or skill gaps within critical departments like human resources.
With technological advancements, threat actors have adopted more sophisticated methods to infiltrate systems. Modern threats are highly complex, utilizing innovative strategies to breach security without relying on conventional cybercrime tactics. Some insiders may unknowingly enable these actors by providing access to platforms such as cloud environments, where advanced tools can be misused.
Financial motives often drive insider threats, linking them to the broader realm of financial crime. The rapid progression of technology, especially in industry applications, has reshaped the global landscape. Digital systems now support various functions, from legal operations to national governance, expanding both opportunities and risks.
In the past, data breaches were primarily associated with external cyberattacks. However, today’s web-centric environments allow insiders to play a significant role in facilitating such incidents. Access is a critical factor in these scenarios, as insider threats rely on it to operate effectively. While the concept of insider risk is not new, its significance has gained broader recognition only recently.
As technology continues to advance, new forms of exploitation emerge. Criminal actors adapt swiftly, leveraging innovations like cloud computing to bypass existing legal and law enforcement frameworks. Nevertheless, no crime is foolproof. Defenders continually enhance their capabilities to outpace emerging threats, shaping the future of cybersecurity and criminology.
About The Author
Milica D. Djekic is an Independent Researcher from Subotica, the Republic of Serbia. She obtained her engineering education from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Belgrade. She contributes to various domestic and international publications and has authored books such as “The Internet of Things: Concept, Applications and Security” and “The Insider’s Threats: Operational, Tactical and Strategic Perspective”, published in 2017 and 2021 respectively by Lambert Academic Publishing. Milica is also a featured speaker on the BrightTALK expert’s channel. She has been a member of ASIS International since 2017 and a contributor to the Australian Cyber Security Magazine since 2018. Milica’s research has garnered recognition from entities like the Computer Emergency Response Team for the European Union (CERT-EU), Censys Press, BU-CERT UK, and EASA European Centre for Cybersecurity in Aviation (ECCSA). Her areas of expertise include cyber defense, technology, and business. Milica is a person with a disability.
