Report: 96 Percent of Companies Continue to Experience Challenges Protecting Data from Insider Risk

Page 2 of 2

Report: 96 Percent of Companies Continue to Experience Challenges Protecting Data from Insider Risk

Code42 recently released its Annual Data Exposure Report for 2022 on Insider Risk. The study, conducted by Vanson Bourne, found that cybersecurity teams are facing unprecedented challenges when it comes to protecting sensitive corporate data from exposure, leak and theft. Identified within the research are three compounding trends increasing the risk to organizations:

1. The continued adoption of cloud technologies and a lack of visibility into them.
2. The impact of the Great Resignation and departing employees’ theft of IP and sensitive data.
3. Ongoing misunderstanding and poor communication between stakeholders at the board, security leadership and security practitioner levels.

When employees quit their jobs, there is a one in three (37%) chance an organization will lose IP. With nearly all companies (96%) noting they experience challenges in protecting corporate data from Insider Risks, it’s clear Insider Risk must be prioritized. However, ownership of the problem remains vaguely defined. Only 21% of companies’ cybersecurity budgets have a dedicated component to mitigate Insider Risk, and the vast majority (91%) of senior cybersecurity leaders still believe that their companies’ Board requires better understanding of Insider Risk.

“With employee turnover and the shift to remote and collaborative work, security teams are struggling to protect IP, source code and customer information. This research highlights that the challenge is even more acute when a third of employees who quit take IP with them when they leave. On top of that, three-quarters of security teams admit that they don’t know what data is leaving when employees depart their organizations,” said Joe Payne, Code42 president and CEO. “Companies must fundamentally shift to a modern data protection approach – Insider Risk Management (IRM) – that aligns with today’s cloud-based, hybrid-remote work environment and can protect the data that fuels their innovation, market differentiation and growth.”

The Great Resignation is increasing concern around data exposure, leaks and exfiltration

In November 2021 alone, a record 4.5 million employees left their jobs, serving as a massive catalyst for data exposure and exfiltration. This level of turnover is causing cybersecurity concerns for 98% of business leaders, cybersecurity leaders and cybersecurity practitioners, who also report a lack of visibility over what and how much sensitive data is leaving their organization.

The study found:

  • Nearly three-fourths (71%) don’t know what and/or how much sensitive data departing employees take to other companies.
  • That same proportion (71%) are concerned about sensitive data being stored outside of corporate storage where security teams lack visibility.
  • Despite an increase in cybersecurity concerns stemming from the surge in remote work, only 43% of respondents report that improving technology for a remote/hybrid workforce is a top two priority for their company.

Culture of disconnect means ownership of Insider Risk remains vague

While almost all companies (96%) experience challenges in protecting corporate data from Insider Risks, there is a disconnect between security leaders, practitioners, business leaders and the Board that is preventing teams from accurately measuring the Insider Risk problem. This impacts how Insider Risk is quantified and presented to senior team members, including the Board.

The study also found:

  • Nearly three in five (57%) cybersecurity practitioners report that cybersecurity leaders don’t consult the team when making decisions about their company’s cybersecurity strategy.
  • 56% of cybersecurity leaders and practitioners agree that they feel like they don’t have a strong voice in business decisions made by the business leadership team.
  • The vast majority (91%) of respondents still believe that their companies’ Board requires more understanding of Insider Risk.

Sustained hybrid-remote work environments push organizations to re-evaluate security awareness training

Companies are still adapting to new ways of working, and it’s clear many organizations will be managing a hybrid workforce for the foreseeable future. Hybrid-remote work heightens security challenges, and many respondents (55%) are concerned about employees becoming lax in their cybersecurity practices. That number is even higher for those in the public sector (70%). The data suggests that companies should examine the frequency, relevance and quality of their training protocol.

The study also found:

  • Almost all companies (96%) believe they need to improve the data security training they give to employees.
  • Nearly one-third of organizations (32%) say they need to completely overhaul employee security training; 63% of those in the public sector are the most likely to hold this opinion.

Pre-IPO companies are making Insider Risk Management a priority

Intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable commodities of a company planning to file an initial public offering (IPO). That, combined with compliance regulations around security controls, means pre-IPO companies must take a closer look at their company’s vulnerability for Insider Risk events. Of all company stages, pre-IPO companies are the most likely to have an IRM program (77%).

The study found:

  • 85% of pre-IPO companies cite Insider Risk as a Board-level priority and 82% indicate Insider Risk is discussed at every Board meeting.
  • Regardless of company maturity, reputational damage as a result of Insider Risk events is the number one concern across all organizations.
  • Loss of IP/customer data is more likely to be a fear for 51% of companies that have had a merger, acquisition or divestiture in the last 12 months than it is for companies that have one planned in the next 12 months (32%). This may be due to the tendency of employees to depart companies post-merger and a fear of those employees taking company data with them when they do so.

The public sector and financial services industry are leading the way in IRM

The public sector (84%) and financial services industry (76%) have the highest percentage of organizations with an IRM program in place and devote the largest proportion of their cybersecurity budget (26% and 24%) to Insider Risk compared to the survey average of 21%.

The study also found:

  • While 98% of surveyed companies in the financial services industry report having fears regarding Insider Risk, all industries are concerned about the impacts of an Insider Risk incident.
  • Media, leisure and entertainment companies have the smallest average budget allocated to mitigating Insider Risk (16%).
  • 58% of companies within the public sector are planning to add new cybersecurity technologies to better monitor file movements.

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.