---
title: Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Insider Threat
description: An insider threat occurs when someone within an organization, such as an employee, contractor, or business partner, deliberately or accidentally causes harm to the organization by exposing or damaging sensitive data.
---

[Jericho Security | Glossary](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary)

# [Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Insider Threat](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/insider-threat)

 Written by [Jericho Security Team](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/author/jericho-security-team) | September 28, 2024

#### *Definition:*

An insider threat occurs when someone within an organization, such as an employee, contractor, or business partner, deliberately or accidentally causes harm to the organization by exposing or damaging sensitive data.

#### *Use Cases:*

- Used by organizations to detect and mitigate risks posed by malicious or negligent insiders.
- Employed in industries dealing with sensitive data, such as healthcare and finance, to protect against internal threats.

#### *Related Terms:*

- [Data Loss Prevention (DLP)](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/data-loss-prevention)
- [Privilege Escalation](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/privilege-escalation)
- Access Control
- Risk Management

#### *Questions and Answers:*

- **What are the common types of insider threats?**Insider threats can be categorized into malicious insiders, who intentionally cause harm, and negligent insiders, who unintentionally expose or compromise data.
- **How can organizations protect against insider threats?**Organizations can implement access control policies, monitor user activity, and use Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools to detect suspicious behavior.
- **Why are insider threats difficult to detect?**Insider threats are challenging to detect because they originate from trusted individuals who have legitimate access to the organization's systems and data.

[View full post](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/insider-threat)

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