Malicious and negligent insider activity continues to drive a significant portion of cyber risk within OT (operational technology) environments. Human error is still the largest contributor to industrial accidents, a reality amplified by complicated legacy equipment tied in with growing digital interdependencies. Motives among insiders, such as disgruntlement, coercion, financial gain, and miscalculations of judgment and recklessness, are unique and sensitive to operational, cultural, and geopolitical contexts identified by Gartner and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Typically, insider threat actors can be categorized into three types covering negligent users, malicious insiders, or exposed credentials. Several cybersecurity incidents stem from accidental events, such as a worker falling for a phishing attempt. Though some may be deliberate. Rogue insiders can also potentially sabotage organizational systems or steal sensitive data for personal or financial gain, whereas careless employees typically misconfigure systems or ignore security protocols.
Across industrial environments, operator mistakes dominate cyber risk. Human error accounts for 80-90% of industrial accidents, and negligent insiders are responsible for approximately 56% of breaches. OT personnel have wide-ranging privileges (often with implicit trust), and even simple mistakes, such as clicking the wrong button, misconfigurations, or plugging in an unapproved USB drive, may lead to costly downtime or safety incidents.
More Info