(TLP:CLEAR) National Insider Threat Awareness Month 2026: Protect Our Potential

Summary: September is National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM), a time dedicated to spread awareness in government and industry about the risks posed by insider threats and the importance of insider threat mitigation programs. This year’s theme is “Protect Our Potential,” which highlights the importance of securing sensitive data, advanced technology, and operational processes to safeguard organizations.

Analyst Note: Insider threats are a growing concern for the water and wastewater sector. Insider threats are fundamentally a human issue rather than a purely technological one. Every individual within an organization constitutes a potential source of risk. A substantial proportion of incidents result from unintentional negligence, wherein employees commit errors attributable to fatigue, distraction, or time pressure. In contrast, malicious insiders may be motivated by personal stressors, external coercion, or other psychological factors, contributing to them engaging in deliberate acts such as fraud, theft, espionage, or sabotage. Such threats are not confined to a single domain, manifesting across both cyber and physical environments.

To help reduce the risk of insider threat incidents, WaterISAC strongly encourages organizations to implement an insider threat program. Towards that end, the NITAM website has freely available guidance resources to help organizations increase insider threat awareness and promote reporting of insider threats across your workforce. In addition, from September 14-18, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) will host a virtual security conference on insider threats (register here).

Relatedly, this week, CISA released an updated edition of its Insider Threat Mitigation Guide. The new features of the 2026 edition include:

• Updated case studies, statistical information, and interactive features intended to strengthen the 2020 edition and retain relevancy in a complex and dynamic operating environment
• New insights addressing recent workplace trends including the increased use of hybrid and remote work, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and numerous other associated insider threat considerations
• Recently released CISA resources that can help bolster preparedness

Original Sources: 

• https://securityawareness.dcsa.mil/cdse/nitam/
• https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/insider-threat-mitigation-guide

Mitigation Recommendations:

• (TLP:GREEN) Physical Security Case Study: Water Treatment Plant Insider Threat Incident
• CISA – Insider Threat Reporting Templates
• CISA – Resources for Onboarding and Employment Screening Fact Sheet

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5