Most people hear “insider threat” and picture the angry employee copying files on the way out. That happens, sure. In fact, DTEX Systems found that 15% of departing employees take sensitive IP, and 76% take non-sensitive proprietary data when they leave.
But here’s what most people miss: the real threat isn’t always malicious. It’s negligent. Lazy. Untrained.
Globally, over half of insider incidents are non-malicious. And here in Australia, 1 in 10 reported cyber incidents involve insider activity.
With hybrid work, reused passwords and personal devices in the mix, your people don’t need to be angry to become a risk. They just need to be distracted, stressed or unaware. And boom — the door’s open.
The human layer of cyber
Phishing isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a behavioural one. And most organisations are still treating it like a checkbox exercise.
Here’s what actually works:
1. Real-world training
Make it realistic. Simulate the pressure. Test their judgement under time pressure, not just in a classroom.
2. Reward reporting
Stop punishing clicks. Start praising fast reporting. Make it safe to own mistakes.
3. Build habits
Annual compliance modules don’t work. People need ongoing nudges, muscle memory, and culture that sticks.
4. Target hybrid risk
Personal devices, home Wi-Fi, reused credentials. These are all attack surfaces now.
5. Make security everyone’s job
This isn’t an IT issue. It’s an enterprise risk issue. And it needs to be owned that way.
A new approach
For too long, insider risk has been shoved into the IT bucket. And look, IT plays a critical frontline role. But if you’re serious about tackling insider risk, you need to stop thinking in silos and start thinking like a whole organisation.
This is about top-down leadership. Owned by someone with real authority (ideally your CEO or COO), reviewed at the board level, and driven by collaboration between IT, HR, Legal and Risk. It’s not just about systems and controls. It’s about mindset, visibility and accountability.
Because here’s the real shift: insider risk isn’t just technical. It’s behavioural. Cultural. Human. That means the solution has to be blended. Tech and non-tech. People and process. Culture and control.
That’s what actually works. And that’s what closes the gap.
Closing the insider risk gap
At Core Integrity, we built Core Sentinel to help organisations tackle insider risk in a new way that shifts the needle and makes the organisation more proactive:
Core Sentinel – Blueprint
A “done-for-you” insider risk program. We assess, design, and embed a tailored Insider Risk Management Plan (IRMP) that fits your culture and appetite.
Core Sentinel – Intercept
Powered by our partners DTEX Systems, we deploy the DTEX Intercept platform to identify and detect insider risks in real time. This is real-time, endpoint-level behavioural analytics. Includes a free 30-day Proof of Concept (POC) and detailed risk report.
Core Sentinel – React
Continuous monitoring by trained analysts. We triage, assess and escalate threats alongside your team.
Core Sentinel – Resolve
When it all goes wrong, we help you respond the right way, the first time. We manage the full investigation including the technical, behavioural and employee aspects. One team. One consistent approach.
Final thought
Ask yourself three things:
- What happens when one of our people gets tricked?
- Are we detecting risky behaviour before the breach?
- Do we have a plan that combines tech and people?
Because the firewall won’t help once the attacker is inside the gates.
And right now, they’re not kicking down the door.
They’re getting invited in.
