Insider Threat

Cybersecurity & Fraud — Risk Analysis & Response Guide

Reference case: Computer programming activities ISIC 6201

3 Risk Indicators

3 Response Steps

1 Cascade Risks

Strategy for Industry — Risk Analysis Brief

Insider Threat

Digital & Technology | Cybersecurity & Fraud | ISIC 6201

1. Risk Summary

Potential Business Impact

Moat Destruction. Theft of core source code, trade secrets, or AI weights allows competitors (domestic or hostile state-owned) to replicate products with zero R&D cost. Results in permanent loss of market leadership, 40-60% intangible asset write-downs, and immediate loss of 'Trusted Vendor' status.

This brief provides a diagnostic framework and response guide for the Insider Threat risk scenario in the Cybersecurity & Fraud domain. Use the risk indicators below to assess whether your organisation may be exposed.

2. Reference Case

The following example illustrates how this risk scenario can emerge in practice. This is one of many industries where these conditions may apply — not a diagnosis of your specific situation.

Computer programming activities ISIC 6201

In 2026, a senior developer (CS05) facing personal financial stress leverages legacy admin rights (DT04) to download the firm's entire proprietary AI model weights. The theft is only discovered 3 months later when a clone appears on a dark-web marketplace.

3. Risk Indicator Checklist

This scenario activates when all of the following GTIAS attribute thresholds are met simultaneously. Use this as a self-assessment checklist:

ER07 ≥ 5 / 5

CS05 ≥ 3 / 5

DT04 ≤ 2 / 5

Scores drawn from the GTIAS 81-attribute scorecard. Click any attribute code to view its definition and scale.

4. Recommended Response Plan

Immediate and tactical steps to address or mitigate exposure to this scenario:

1 Deploy 'User and Entity Behavior Analytics' (UEBA) to baseline 'normal' file egress
2 enforce 'Just-in-Time' (JIT) and 'Just-Enough' Access (JEA) for R&D repos
3 implement 'Termination-Triggered Lockouts' tied to HR offboarding systems.

For the full strategic playbook behind these actions, see Risk Rule DIG_SEC_008 →

5. Cascade Risk Monitor

If this scenario is left unaddressed, it can trigger the following secondary risk rules. Organisations should monitor these as early-warning indicators:

Critical IP Exfiltration

6. Specialist Solution Providers

Vetted specialists in software, security, technology relevant to this risk scenario:

Appendix: Common Questions

What conditions trigger the "Insider Threat" scenario?

This scenario triggers when ER07 ≥ 5 and CS05 ≥ 3 and cyber threat exposure (DT04 ≤ 2) reach elevated levels simultaneously. These attributes reflect Theft of core source code, trade secrets, or AI weights allows competitors (domestic or hostile state-owned) to replicate products with zero R&D cost. that, in combination, creates a materially higher probability of the outcome described above.

What is the potential financial cost of "Insider Threat" materialising?

Digital and cybersecurity incidents typically have a bimodal cost profile: an immediate containment and recovery cost (days to weeks), and a longer-tail reputational and regulatory cost (months). Moat Destruction.

Which technical controls reduce exposure to "Insider Threat"?

The most effective countermeasures address the root conditions: ER07 ≥ 5 and CS05 ≥ 3 and cyber threat exposure (DT04 ≤ 2). Deploy 'User and Entity Behavior Analytics' (UEBA) to baseline 'normal' file egress.

What distinguishes companies that manage "Insider Threat" effectively?

Effective responses address the root attributes rather than the symptoms. Deploy 'User and Entity Behavior Analytics' (UEBA) to baseline 'normal' file egress. enforce 'Just-in-Time' (JIT) and 'Just-Enough' Access (JEA) for R&D repos. Companies that monitor ER07 ≥ 5 and CS05 ≥ 3 and cyber threat exposure (DT04 ≤ 2) as leading indicators — rather than reacting to lagging financial results — consistently achieve better outcomes.

What other risks does "Insider Threat" trigger or amplify?

Left unaddressed, this scenario can cascade into related risk patterns: Critical IP Exfiltration. These downstream risks share underlying attribute conditions with "Insider Threat", which is why organisations that mitigate the primary trigger typically see simultaneous improvement across the cascade chain.