May 26, 2020
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently released “Insider Threat Roadmap 2020,” a framework to mitigate the risk of insider threats in transportation.
The agency explained it utilizes a multi-layer approach to security and “an insider who has overcome multiple security layers to carry out an attack is more likely to be pre-empted, deterred or defeated during the attempt.”
The recently published roadmap outlines three main priorities:
- Promote data-driven decision making to detect threats
- Advance operational capability to deter threats
- Mature capabilities to mitigate threats to the transportation sector
Examples of insider threats include sabotage, smuggling of individuals or contraband, attempted or actual espionage and unauthorized access to security restricted areas and information.
Several recent incidents in the transportation industry, including in the aviation segment, highlighted the need to focus on insider threats.
In the roadmap, the TSA encourages a collaborative approach between TSA, federal partners, law enforcement, state and local authorities and industry stakeholders, with enhanced cooperation with international partners a “key enabler” to protecting the U.S. The TSA will develop implementation plans with timelines and performance measures going forward.
“This framework is a good first step at considering how the transportation industry could mitigate the risk of insider threats,” said Doug Carr, NBAA’s vice president of international and regulatory affairs. “However, specific risk mitigation strategies should be scalable and data-driven, allowing different segments of the transportation industry to develop their own unique solutions, based on identified threats.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.