Agent-based behavior precursor model of insider IT sabotage

Abstract

Insider IT sabotage can be defined as the use of information technology to cause harm to an organization or an individual. Behavioral precursors are usually observable during the evolution of the threat. These precursors include personal predispositions such as rule and policy violations or mental health disorders, expressed disgruntlement due to unmet expectations or stressful events experienced by highly skilled employees with access to administrate systems, networks, and data in the organization. This research uses an agent-based modeling and simulation approach for modeling behavior precursors of insider IT sabotage within an organization using a risk scale. The specific behavioral precursors include the individual’s predisposition, disgruntlement, stress levels, technical skill levels and the level of access to the computer systems. The simulation provides a framework for exploring the emergence and development of insider IT sabotage within organizations for different turnover rates.