Human Factors and Insider Threats in OT Environments

While technology is perceived as having the most critical role in OT security, human factors remain one of the greatest vulnerabilities. Insider threats, whether malicious or accidental, pose a significant risk to industrial operations.

Recent industry data underscores the growing scale and impact of insider cyber attacks across organizations worldwide. According to IBM and Gurucul, in 2024, 83% of organizations reported experiencing at least one insider attack, reflecting a significant rise from previous years. The frequency of such incidents is also increasing: 48% of organizations stated that insider attacks became more common over the past 12 months, and the proportion of organizations experiencing 11–20 attacks annually jumped fivefold compared to 2023.

Financially, the consequences are substantial—29% of companies reported remediation costs exceeding $1 million per incident, while the average cost per insider attack continues to climb (Source: CyberSecurity Insiders website). However, insider threats in OT environments present far more severe consequences than those typically found in IT systems, extending beyond financial impact to encompass employee safety, public safety, and even national security. Disruption to industrial control systems can result in equipment damage, environmental contamination, service outages affecting critical infrastructure, and in worst-case scenarios, physical harm to personnel and surrounding communities.

Notably, while the majority of insider threat incidents stem from employee or contractor negligence, a quarter are attributed to malicious insiders, often motivated by financial gain. These trends highlight the urgent need for awareness and concrete actions to mitigate the risk of insider threats in OT environments, where the stakes extend far beyond corporate financial losses.

Common scenarios include:

• Accidental Misconfigurations: Operators may inadvertently expose systems or disable security controls.

• Malicious Insiders: Disgruntled employees or contractors may sabotage operations or steal sensitive data.

• Social Engineering: Attackers exploit human trust to gain access to critical systems.

Mitigating these risks requires a multi-layered approach:

• Security Awareness Training: Educate staff on OT security best practices and threat recognition. Also address third parties and your supply chain.

• Access Management: Enforce strict access controls and regularly review permissions.

• Incident Reporting: Encourage employees to report suspicious activity without fear of reprisal.

• Continuous Monitoring: Detect unusual behavior patterns and respond swiftly.

About RubyComm: RubyComm delivers tailored operational technology (OT) cybersecurity solutions for industrial environments where standard products fall short. Based in Israel with a U.S. presence, we secure critical systems for industrial manufacturers, infrastructure operators, medical equipment providers, energy producers, and smart building managers. Our competitive advantage lies in creating customized security architectures that address the specific challenges conventional solutions cannot: functionality limitations in specialized settings, complex operational environments requiring precision approaches, prohibitive pricing structures, and technical expertise gaps within client organizations. Unlike one-size-fits-all offerings, RubyComm's solutions maintain operational efficiency while providing comprehensive protection, transforming security from a product purchase into a strategic partnership. Our team of specialists is strategically positioned to scale our proven methodology, meeting the rapidly growing demand for sophisticated OT security across vital sectors worldwide.