Which of the following best describes an insider threat in the context of stress and workplace psychology?

• A. A malfunctioning computer system causing data loss
• B. A natural disaster that disrupts workplace operations
• C. A current or former employee who poses a risk to the organization by misusing their access or knowledge
• D. A competitor attempting to steal company secrets from outside the organization

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of an 'insider threat' within workplace psychology. This term refers to risks that originate from individuals who have authorized access to an organization's resources, such as employees or former employees.
2. Step 2: Differentiate insider threats from external threats. External threats come from outside the organization, like competitors or natural disasters, whereas insider threats come from within the organization.
3. Step 3: Recognize that insider threats involve misuse of access or knowledge. This misuse can be intentional, such as stealing information, or unintentional, such as negligence leading to security breaches.
4. Step 4: Evaluate each option in the problem by identifying whether the source of the threat is internal or external and whether it involves human behavior related to stress or workplace psychology.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description of an insider threat is 'A current or former employee who poses a risk to the organization by misusing their access or knowledge,' because it directly involves an internal individual whose behavior impacts organizational security.