Defining Insider Threats and Indicators
It is not always easy to see concerning behaviors or potential warning signs of an insider threat. This month is an opportunity to educate and raise awareness of the Insider Threat Program and its mission to detect, deter, respond to, and mitigate insider threats before there is damage to our people or our Coast Guard.
An insider is anyone who has or had authorized access to Coast Guard’s resources, such as personnel, facilities, information, equipment, networks and systems. An insider threat is defined as the threat that a Coast Guard member will use their authorized access, wittingly or unwittingly, to do harm to the security of the U.S. via espionage, sabotage, leaks or spills, or targeted violence.
Knowing potential risk indicators is critical in protecting our people and the service. These risk factors include; verbal or non-verbal threats of harm, disparaging remarks against the United States, security and information technology violations, and possibly changes in person’s previously observed performance due to self-destructive behaviors. According to the FBI, a "Pathway to Violence" often begins with a grievance. People can have real or perceived grievances, justified or unjustified, and grievances vary greatly from person to person.
What can you do?
The most crucial way Coast Guard members can help is by reporting concerning behaviors and potential risk indicators. When reported, the Insider Threat Program utilizes a multidisciplinary effort to assist “at risk” members to ensure they get the help they need and mitigate the risk to the Coast Guard.
The Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) reported that 95% of active shooters showed early signs of concerning behaviors. In most cases these behaviors were viewed by friends, family, and coworkers prior to the acts of violence.
Take action and report risk indicators and concerning behaviors. There are multiple ways to report. For non-imminent threats notify your Command, security officer, or insider threat coordinator or visit the Coast Guard Insider Threat Program (CGITP) SharePoint page.
These reports can be made anonymously. Reporting concerning behaviors and risk indicators allows insider threat programs to take proactive measures that will hopefully lead to positive outcomes for individuals and mitigate risk for organizations.
USCG Insider Threat Program building resiliency
The Insider Threat Program not only protects the people that drive our workforce, it also provides a cultural safety net that fosters trust and enhances resiliency. One of the main focuses for today’s Coast Guard is strengthening our service culture, which evidence suggests will enhance our ability to mitigate insider threats.
“It’s our core values and the promises that each represents – one individual at a time holding true to those – that would deter and mitigate insider threats to the greatest degree. Striving daily to demonstrate courage, acting in every moment with honor, and struggling over time to achieve devotion to and in our duties would leave little time or interest in anything less.” Jared Quance, Insider Threat Program Manager
A strong foundation for insider threat prevention and mitigation stems from the exercise of our core values by everyone in the Coast Guard. Employees who believe their workplace is unjust are 4.6 times more likely to engage in insider threat behaviors than those who feel their organization is fair and just. You can read more about impacts of organizational culture here.
“Our norms, philosophies, and rules – and how we apply them – resonate intertwined with those around us. Recognizing this, and appreciating it has profound influence on individuals and the organizational culture of the Coast Guard. There is no honor in hurting yourself, your shipmate, or your Coast Guard; there is no courage in ignoring that someone else is hurting or being hurt.” – Jared Quance, Insider Threat Program Manager
For further reading about insider threat awareness month, the CGITP, or warning signs to be aware of concerning insider threats, check out the resources below.
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