September is National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM), a time dedicated to spreading awareness in government and industry about the risks posed by insider threats and the role of insider threat programs. This year’s theme is “Critical Thinking in Digital Spaces,” which encourages engaging in critical thinking to recognize and avoid falling victim to insider threats.

In the digital space, threats may emerge from social engineering, solicitation by adversaries (foreign and domestic), and disinformation. For example, the increase in employees working from home has made it more difficult to discern between true coworkers and phishing attempts for proprietary and sensitive information. It has also led to more interactions on social media, which exposes more employees to deception attempts. Given the array of vectors, it’s important that organizations engage in activities like training their employees and creating insider threat programs. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and NITAM websites offer more information and resources for organizations and individuals to learn more about the threats and take proactive measures. They’ve even set up a new game, “The Adventures of Earl Lee Indicator,” providing an easy and fun way to learn more about this important topic. Read more at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and NITAM.