Mitigating Insider Risks This Holiday Season

As we approach the holiday season, it’s important to recognize that while businesses are preparing for festivities and end-of-year celebrations, the threat landscape continues to evolve. Insider risks—both malicious and non-malicious—may rise during this time, exacerbated by factors such as reduced staffing, holiday chaos, and even employee dissatisfaction. While the focus is often on protecting against external threats, the risks posed by insiders—especially during high-stress periods like the holidays—should not be overlooked.

Insiders: A Season of Increased Risk

The holiday season often brings about a perfect storm of vulnerabilities within organizations. Reduced staffing, for example, can create gaps in security monitoring, leaving systems more exposed. According to a recent study, 86% of organizations that experienced ransomware attacks saw them occur during periods of corporate downtime, including holidays and weekends, when security operations may be less vigilant. This makes the holiday season not just a time of celebration, but a period when cybercriminals are more likely to strike, taking advantage of slower response times due to diminished staff.

Furthermore, holiday stress and distractions can lead to lapses in judgment or an increase in insider negligence leading to accidental data breaches. Employees may be more prone to taking risks, such as accessing sensitive information on personal devices or clicking on suspicious links, making them more susceptible to social engineering and compromise.

The Role of Employees and External Threat Actors

It is crucial to understand that the success of security incident, including ransomware and phishing, hinges the actions of an insider. This is why having visibility into insider behavior early is so important. A significant issue during the holiday season is the increase in personal activities, such as online shopping, which often occurs on corporate devices. Employees may think they’re simply multitasking, but as DTEX threat research shows, using company assets for personal activities heightens the risk of a breach stemming from credential compromise, blended attacks, or insider negligence.

Cybercriminals are adept at taking advantage of the holiday season by crafting highly convincing scams. Targeted email campaigns, fake promotions, and phishing attempts increase significantly, capitalizing on employees’ distracted states. AI has turbocharged these efforts, yielding threat actors the power to accelerate phishing efforts at unprecedented scale. This combined with increased online shopping around the holidays creates a perfect window for cybercriminals to strike. 

A Human-Centric Approach to Mitigating Insider Risks During the Holiday Season

Organizations can mitigate insider risks during the holiday season by uplevelling their understanding of insider behaviors and fostering a culture of awareness and vigilance. By measuring how employees behave throughout the year—and comparing that to how they behave during peak holiday periods—companies can detect and deter potential security risks before they escalate.

Here are a few strategies organizations can implement to better protect themselves from insider risks during the holiday season:

• Behavioral Analysis and Monitoring: During the holiday season, employees may exhibit behavioral indicators that signal potential security risks, such as increased personal use of corporate devices, sudden performance declines, frustration with the organization, or unexplained access to sensitive information. By monitoring these patterns and addressing them with a proportionate and sensitive response, organizations can proactively mitigate risks and prevent inadvertent or malicious breaches without escalating the situation.
• Internal Security Training: Regular training sessions on how to spot phishing attempts, scams, and other concerning activities or behaviors are vital. Employees need to be aware of the increased risk during the holiday season and be equipped to recognize and report suspicious behavior, both stemming from inside and outside their organization. Focusing on common holiday-related threats, such as fake promotional emails or fraudulent e-commerce sites, can be particularly effective in protecting sensitive company data.
• Creating a Culture of Security: One of the most effective ways to combat insider risks is to foster a workplace culture underpinned by bidirectional loyalty. When employees feel trusted, respected, protected, and valued by the organization, they are less likely to engage in malicious activities. This can be particularly effective during the holiday season, a time when morale and employee engagement are key. Addressing feelings of alienation, unfair treatment, or lack of recognition can help deter employees from engaging in harmful behavior while simultaneously encourage them to report concerning behaviors.

Turning the Holiday Season Into a Opportunity

Despite the increased risk, the holiday season offers a unique opportunity for organizations to strengthen their security posture. By taking leaning into behavioral insights, reinforcing security protocols, and maintaining a vigilant yet supportive workforce culture, organizations can proactively mitigate insider risks during the holiday season.

This holiday season, companies should not only focus on securing their digital perimeter but also on fostering an environment that reduces the likelihood of insider risk. Ensuring that employees are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to make safe decisions can go a long way in protecting the organization from both malicious and accidental insider threats.

The importance of a proactive, well-rounded insider risk management program is clearer than ever. By combining technology, employee education, and cultural initiatives, organizations can reduce the risks posed by insiders during the holiday season and beyond. The holidays may bring new challenges, but with the right strategies in place, companies can turn these potential vulnerabilities into opportunities to enhance security and protect their workforce and data.