Introduction
Insider threats are evolving faster than your printer can jam, and they continue to pose significant risks to our workspaces today. Whether it’s a coworker who forgot to lock the drawer housing your top-secret cookie recipes, a third-party vendor unknowingly bringing malware into the company network (or was it just last week’s un-vetted software?), or a threat actor posing as your I.T. guy to directly steal company secrets—or your lunch!—insider threats are no laughing matter when it comes to your personal data!
3 out of 4 organizations are moderately to extremely vulnerable to insider attacks, and these incidents are becoming as common as coffee spills in a busy office. That’s why we’re diving into some emerging and persisting insider threats to watch out for in 2025—spoiler alert: it’s not all rainbows and unicorns!
10 Biggest Insider Threats to Watch Out For Today
- Data Exfiltration with AI Tools
AI tools are like the new coffee breaks—everybody’s using them! But just like with coffee, too much can be dangerous. Employees may use AI chatbots and generative models to crank out work, but these tools can easily become unintentional data harbingers, storing or transferring proprietary information quicker than you can say “data breach.” Keep an eye out for those sneaky unauthorized usages!
- Hybrid Work Environment Challenges
With remote and hybrid work here to stay, it’s like trying to control a herd of cats. Employees working beyond the office walls may use personal devices that wouldn’t pass muster on a first date with corporate security, or they might be accessing company data over Wi-Fi that’s less secure than a teenager’s secret Instagram account. Yikes!
- Financial Fraud and Social Engineering
It turns out that some employees are financially motivated ninjas! They could manipulate transactions or use credentials of former employees like they’re playing a game of Monopoly. Add in some social engineering, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster, as our well-meaning teammates might be convinced to give away sensitive information faster than you can say “Please, no!”
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Activity
M&A info is like office gossip—tempting yet potentially dangerous! Employees with access to sensitive merger details might be enticed to leak what they know, just like that one coworker who can’t keep secrets. Plus, the stress of job changes can fuel the risk of data misuse like a double shot of espresso!
- Third-Party and Contractor Risk
Reliance on third-party vendors is like dating someone who already has a commitment—ever so risky! Disgruntled contractors could exploit their access or copy proprietary data faster than you can say “oops, there goes our trade secret.”
- Shadow IT and Unauthorized Apps
Employees may use unauthorized apps like they’re dressing up for a company costume party—totally inappropriate! Shadow IT can bypass security protocols, making sensitive data vulnerable faster than you can say “ghosting.” Keep those unofficial apps in check!
- Data Deletion or Corruption by Disgruntled Employees
Employees with access could go on a data going-away party, deleting or corrupting files as an act of retaliation. It’s like the office drama you didn’t sign up for, especially if they feel underappreciated or are about to leave the company. This is one plot twist we don’t need!
- Access Creep
Much like that coworker who keeps every party invitation even after they stop coming to the parties, employees can accumulate unnecessary access permissions, leading to increased risks. Regular audits are as essential as that morning cup of coffee to prevent unintentional insider threats!
- Internal Phishing Attempts
In some cases, employees can be as sneaky as a cat burglar, trying to fish for sensitive information from their own coworkers. If personal grievances or external incentives are in play, expect some internal phishing attempts that would make a villain proud!
- Negligent Behavior
Unintentional
