First held in 2019, NITAM is an annual, month-long campaign during September that brings together thousands of U.S. security professionals and policy makers from government and industry, located in 25 countries around the globe, to educate government and industry about the risks posed by insider threats and the role of insider threat programs.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USD(I&S)), the National Insider Threat Task Force, and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) partner together with other stakeholder organizations to build off previous successes and expand the impact and audience of the NITAM campaign each year. Organizations that participate in the campaign increase awareness and promote reporting of insider threats (InTs) across their workforces.
The month-long campaign kicks off with an Insider Threat Conference. This year’s theme is “Critical Thinking in Digital Spaces” and will feature senior level speakers and panelists who will present on critical thinking for the workforce, social engineering threats, an insider threat case study, and resources for workforce resiliency to counter insider risk. Register for the 2022 Insider Threat Virtual Conference.
Historical Endorsements
Michael J. Orlando
Acting Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center
Message from NCSC Acting Director Michael J. Orlando
During September 2021 the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's National Counterintelligence and Security Center will work collaboratively with departments and agencies across the federal government to support the third annual National Insider Threat Awareness Month, which emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our nation by detecting, deterring, and mitigating insider threats.
The United States has suffered a rising number of incidents perpetrated by trusted insiders who have adversely affected public health and safety, national security, and the economic well-being of the United States. The last year and a half presented an increasingly challenging risk environment, with significant adjustments to work and home life, disrupted supply chains, financial insecurity, unreliable or overwhelmed technology capabilities, political and cultural fissures, and serious health concerns. The risks for espionage, violence, unauthorized disclosure, and even unwitting insider threat actions are higher than ever as our adversaries seek to take advantage of our vulnerabilities through increased targeting of insiders.
Nevertheless, we remain strong and committed to addressing these challenges. As you know, pursuant to Reference A all federal departments and agencies with access to classified information are required to maintain a program to deter, detect, and mitigate insider threats. Insider threat programs are comprised of multidisciplinary teams that address insider threats while protecting the privacy and civil liberties of the workforce, maximizing organizational trust, and ensuring positive work cultures that foster diversity and inclusion. Maintaining effective insider threat programs has never been more crucial to the nation's security.
Participating in National Insider Threat Awareness Month will help federal departments' and agencies' programs more effectively detect, deter, and mitigate insider threats by increasing awareness and promoting reporting. Most insider threats emerge over time, with evidence of concerning behaviors or risk indicators surfacing prior to harmful events. Through National Insider Threat Awareness Month events federal employees, private sector stakeholders, and other audiences will not only learn about the serious risks posed by insider threats, but also how to recognize and report anomalous activities to enable early intervention. Insider threat awareness is not about curtailing protected free speech or suppressing legitimate whistleblowing; it is about preventing the exploitation of authorized access to avoid harm to an organization and its resources. Reporting concerning behaviors and risk indicators allows insider threat programs to take proactive measures that can lead to positive outcomes for individuals and organizations.
I encourage you to participate in National Insider Threat Awareness Month this September. There are many ways to get involved, from accessing and distributing awareness materials provided by NCSC to hosting an Insider Threat Awareness Day. A multi-media communications platform for engagement on this topic, including a list of suggested actions and activities, is available at https://www.dni.gov/index.php/ncsc-how-we-work/ncsc-nittf. I look forward to working together with you during this important month.
Michael J. Olando
Acting Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center
Joseph D. Kernan, Retired
Director, Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security
Message from USDI Joseph D. Kernan
Throughout the month of September the Department of Defense and the National Insider Threat Task Force, in close partnership with Insider Threat stakeholders in government, industry, and academia, will conduct a series of events to emphasize the importance of safeguarding our nation from insider threats. During this second annual Insider Threat Awareness month, we will focus on the theme of "Resilience," an intangible quality that allows individuals and organizations to overcome adversity. Resilience helps individuals develop behaviors, thoughts, and actions that promote personal well-being, which in turn strengthens the organization and mitigates risks.
Our objective for the 2020 Insider Threat Awareness month is to help government and corporate organizations understand how to detect, engage, and assist at-risk employees. Early intervention strengthens our resiliency and fosters rehabilitative outcomes for at-risk personnel.
We encourage your participation and support for promoting workforce awareness, employee assistance, risk mitigation, and countering insider threats, not only this month, but throughout the year. Suggested actions and activities are available from the Center for Development of Security Excellence. Your leadership is vital to the safety and security of DOD personnel and resources.
Joseph D. Kernan
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security
William R. Evanina, Retired
Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center
Message from NCSC Director William R. Evanina
Dear Colleagues:
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center, National Insider Threat Task Force, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, Department of Homeland Security, and Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) are partnering with Insider Threat community stakeholders to support National Insider Threat Awareness Month during September 2020.
During this second annual Insider Threat Awareness Month, we emphasize the importance of safeguarding our Nation from the risks posed by insider threats. Past compromises of national security information by insiders have made America less safe by allowing our adversaries unauthorized access to information. These actions, coupled with incidents of senseless loss of life perpetrated by insiders have highlighted the need for uniform engagement.
As a nation, we are committed to protecting critical information and our citizenry while preserving privacy and civil liberties. Proactive insider threat reporting can deter, detect, and mitigate insider threats. It provides an opportunity for early intervention, strengthens our nation's resiliency, and fosters rehabilitative outcomes for individuals at risk. This can reduce acts of harm to self or others, prevent the loss or compromise of classified information, and minimize damage to organizations.
2020 has presented a unique risk environment. Covid-19 has impacted every single American. Many face serious adjustments - telework or other continuity of operations implementation, broken supply chains, and sometimes unreliable or overwhelmed technology capabilities. There are also the deeply personal human struggles related to health care, child care, financial insecurity, and political and cultural fissures. The risks for espionage, unauthorized disclosure, fraud, theft and even unwitting insider threat actions are higher than ever.
During National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2020 we will be focusing on the theme of "Resilience." Resilience is an intangible quality that allows us to face adversity and come back at least as strong as before. It helps individuals harden the target and develop behaviors, thoughts, and actions that promote personal wellbeing and mental health. Insider Threat programs promote personal and organizational resilience to mitigate risks.
Insider Threat Awareness Month provides a multi-media communications platform for the engagement of the general workforce of federal departments and agencies, cleared industry, critical infrastructure sectors, academia, and the general public.
We encourage you to participate in Insider Threat Awareness Month this September. Suggested actions and activities are available from the DCSA Center for Development of Security Excellence. Feel free to reach out to your Insider Threat POC and/or the Center for Development of Security Excellence for additional information. We look forward to a successful Insider Threat Awareness Month 2020 and appreciate your support.
William R. Evanina
Director, National Counterintelligence and Security Center
William K. Leitzau
Director, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
Message from DCSA Director William K. Leitzau
Dear Colleagues:
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) is partnering with the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, National Insider Threat Task Force, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, Department of Homeland Security, and insider threat community stakeholders to support the second annual National Insider Threat Awareness Month during September 2020.
The theme of 2020's National Insider Threat Awareness Month is "Resilience." Resilience emphasizes the personal quality of facing adversity and coming back stronger than before, which helps promote thoughts and actions that strengthen well-being. Resilience builds good decisionmaking skills and enables people to avoid situations where they could become targets of exploitative opportunity.
Personal and organizational resilience is more important than ever, as our workforce contends with significant health, child care, financial, and even socio-cultural challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These extended periods of difficulty can cause great stress and uncertainty that, if unaddressed, could weaken resilience and increase risks associated with insider threats.
Insider threats cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year, put critical infrastructure and supply chains at risk, endanger national security and, in the most tragic cases, can lead to senseless violence. These incidents highlight the critical need for raising awareness around deterring, detecting, and mitigating insider threats - the essential functions of insider threat awareness programs. September provides a month-long opportunity to highlight the critical importance of safeguarding our nation from the risks posed by insider threats and raise awareness across the workforce.
Insider threat programs help the workforce identify, understand, and report concerning behaviors early, enabling proactive intervention and assistance before those behaviors become a risk. Insider threat awareness is not about curtailing protected free speech or suppressing legitimate whistleblowing; it is about preventing the exploitation of authorized access to cause harm to an organization, its resources or its people.
I encourage everyone to participate in National Insider Threat Awareness Month activities this September as one way to help build resilience while staying aware and engaged. Suggested activities, products, and actions are outlined on the National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2020 web page. Whatever activities or engagements you choose, actions both large and smal I will contribute to the ultimate goal of securing the Federal Government from insider threats. Thank you for your support of National Insider Threat Awareness Month.
Sincerely,
William K. Leitzau
Director, Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency