September marks National Insider Threat Awareness Month, a reminder that some of the biggest security risks to an organization do not come from shadowy external hackers, but from the people already inside the walls. Employees, contractors, and trusted partners all have legitimate access to systems, but that access can be misused—intentionally or not. 

Recent studies show that insider incidents continue to rise, with the average cost of a single incident reaching into the millions. These aren’t rare, edge-case events. They are happening every day, across every sector, and often resulting from employee mistakes or negligence rather than malice. A mistyped command, a reused password, or a careless click on a phishing email can be just as damaging as deliberate sabotage. 

The Insider’s Advantage 

The challenge is that insiders already have the keys. Unlike an external attacker who must break through firewalls or bypass intrusion detection systems, an insider begins with the authority to be there. And when that insider has elevated credentials, such as root accounts, domain admin rights, or privileged access to databases, the potential for damage escalates quickly. Whether by error or intent, insider detection is difficult, and containment can take months. 

This is where privileged access management (PAM) becomes essential. PAM goes beyond simply securing passwords in a vault.  PAM solutions help companies enforce granular, role-based access controls, monitor and record privileged sessions, and limit what insiders can do with the credentials they’ve been granted. 

Zero Standing Privilege and Just-in-Time Privileged Access 

The concept of Zero Standing Privilege (ZSP) is gaining traction because it addresses the root of insider risk. Instead of granting permanent, continuous access to privileged accounts, ZSP eliminates those rights until they are absolutely needed. When a system administrator, developer, or third-party vendor requires access, it is granted on a Just-in-Time (JIT) basis—only for the duration of the task and only to the systems required. When the session ends, so does the access. 

This shift changes the risk landscape. If no one has standing privilege, there is nothing for an insider to exploit or for an attacker to steal through credential compromise. A dormant admin account with a weak password is no longer a liability because, under ZSP, that account doesn’t exist until it is created for a specific, approved purpose. 

Making ZSP Work in Practice

The beauty of this approach is that it protects against both malicious and negligent insiders. The disgruntled employee cannot quietly siphon data because they never hold continuous privileged rights. The well-meaning but careless staff member cannot leave credentials exposed because those credentials vanish after each use. In both cases, the organization reduces its risk footprint dramatically. 

National Insider Threat Awareness Month encourages organizations to re-examine their defenses and rethink where vulnerabilities truly lie. Firewalls, antivirus software, and monitoring tools all play a role, but none address the problem of insiders who already have access. PAM, and specifically the adoption of ZSP and JIT access, closes that gap. 

Why 12Port PAM  

12Port PAM was built with these principles in mind. It combines secure credential vaulting with advanced access controls that enforce least privilege, automate credential rotation, and most importantly, enable a Zero Standing Privilege model. This ensures that privileged access is always controlled, always temporary, and always accountable. 

Insider threats are not going away. If anything, they will continue to grow as hybrid work, cloud adoption, and third-party partnerships expand the number of people with access to critical systems. The question for organizations is no longer whether they can stop every insider risk, but whether they can limit the damage those insiders can do. 

By moving away from permanent privilege and embracing Just-in-Time privileged access, companies can reduce insider threats. What was once a danger inside the walls becomes a risk that can be managed, monitored, and minimized. 

For businesses ready to take that step, download a free trial of 12Port PAM or schedule a demo today to learn more and see if 12Port is right for you. 

The post Insider Threats and the Power of Just-in-Time Privileged Access  appeared first on 12Port.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from 12Port authored by Peter Senescu. Read the original post at: https://www.12port.com/blog/insider-threats-and-the-power-of-just-in-time-privileged-access/