Insider fraud often occurs when trusted individuals exploit their IT access for personal gain or revenge.

Recently, the British Museum experienced an unexpected disruption when a former contractor disabled its IT systems. This incident highlighted the risks posed by disgruntled employees and inadequate access management. It also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of insider fraud, which can have devastating consequences for businesses of all sizes.

In the British Museum’s case, the contractor’s continued access to IT systems after leaving the organization was a critical oversight. This scenario underscores the importance of robust offboarding processes and continuous monitoring of user access.

Mitigation Steps for Businesses

• Implement Robust Offboarding Processes – Ensure that all access rights are revoked immediately upon an employee’s departure. This includes both physical and system access.
• Update Access Controls – To prevent unauthorized access, access controls should be reviewed and updated regularly. To detect suspicious activity, use tools like user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA).
• Adapt Zero Trust Policies – Limit access based on user roles and behaviors, enforcing continuous identity verification.
• Enhance Employee Training – Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.

By taking these proactive measures, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of insider fraud and protect their critical IT assets.

In today’s interconnected world, where communication systems like UC and VoIP solutions are integral to operations, safeguarding against insider threats is more crucial than ever.

Contact TCI to discuss your business communications security and compliance. We have solutions that can safeguard what counts. Call (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.