Threat-Specific
Insider Threat Investigation
Sensitive investigation framework for handling suspected malicious or negligent insider activity.
Threat-Specific · advanced · Days to weeks
Procedures for investigating potential insider threats, balancing security with legal and HR considerations.
Steps
5
01
Initial Assessment
Evaluate the indicators and potential severity.
- Document the specific indicators that triggered concern
- Assess whether this is malicious, negligent, or compromised insider
- Determine potential data or systems at risk
- Evaluate urgency based on risk assessment
02
Stakeholder Coordination
Engage necessary parties with appropriate confidentiality.
- Brief HR and Legal immediately
- Determine investigation team with need-to-know
- Establish secure communication channels
- Define investigation scope and boundaries
03
Evidence Collection
Gather evidence while maintaining confidentiality.
- Preserve relevant logs (email, file access, network)
- Image systems if warranted
- Document physical access patterns
- Collect HR-related documentation
04
Analysis
Analyze evidence to determine scope and intent.
- Review file access and transfer patterns
- Analyze email communications
- Evaluate network activity and destinations
- Assess physical security indicators
05
Action Planning
Determine appropriate response actions.
- Develop action plan with HR and Legal
- Prepare for potential interview
- Plan access revocation timing
- Coordinate law enforcement engagement if warranted
Checklist
- Indicators documented
- HR and Legal engaged
- Confidentiality maintained
- Evidence preserved
- Access patterns analyzed
- Data exfiltration assessed
- Action plan developed
- Employee interview conducted (if applicable)
- Access revoked (if warranted)
- Incident documented
Evidence
- File access logs
- Email communications
- Network traffic logs
- Physical access logs
- HR documentation
- Interview notes
Communication
- Legal hold notification
- HR coordination memo
- Employee interview script