What is a major risk associated with insider threats?

The major risk associated with insider threats is the loss of sensitive information. Insider threats can come from employees, contractors, or business partners who have access to an organization’s data and systems. When individuals with trusted access misuse that privilege—either intentionally or unintentionally—it can lead to unauthorized disclosure, theft, or destruction of sensitive information. This could have severe consequences, including financial loss, damage to reputation, legal repercussions, and compromise of national security for organizations like the Department of Defense.

In contrast, overly strict security protocols, while potentially cumbersome, serve to safeguard information rather than represent a direct risk in themselves. Increased collaboration among teams often fosters innovation and efficiency, and improvement in employee morale generally indicates a positive work environment that enhances productivity. Therefore, these options do not align with the central concern of insider threats, which predominantly revolves around the potential for sensitive data to be compromised.