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News | Sept. 3, 2024

DCSA kicks off 6th Annual National Insider Threat Awareness Month (NITAM)

Since 2019, the month-long campaign, held annually in September, brings together thousands of U.S. security professionals and policy makers from government and industry to educate and increase awareness about the risks posed by insider threats, and the role of insider-threat programs.

This year’s theme is ‘Deter, Detect, Mitigate.’ The theme comes directly from the 2012 Presidential Memorandum National Insider Threat Policy and Minimum Standards for Executive Branch Insider Threat Programs, which provides guidance: “… to promote the development of effective insider threat programs within departments and agencies to deter, detect, and mitigate actions by employees who may represent a threat to national security. These threats encompass potential espionage, violent acts against the Government or the Nation, and unauthorized disclosure of classified information, including the vast amounts of classified data available on interconnected United States Government computer networks and systems.”

“NITAM emphasizes the importance of safeguarding our nation by detecting, deterring, and mitigating insider threats,” said DCSA Director David Cattler in a statement.

Throughout the month, DCSA officials will host and participate in several supporting events including:
  • The 9th Counter-Insider Threat Symposium on Sept. 4-5 in Washington, D.C. This event will bring together experts from Government, industry, and academia to share insights and strategies to combat insider risks. Register now at counterinsider.com to be part of this important discussion.
  • A webinar: “Mass Shooter Contagion Theory and the Copycat Effect in the Evolving Media Environment,” Sept. 5, 2024. Register here.
  • The DCSA Conference for Insider Threat (NITAM), “Deter, Detect, Mitigate,” on Sept. 9-10, 2024. Register for the NITAM Conference.
  • A webinar: “Counterintelligence and Insider Threat Curricula Overview,” Sept. 19, 2024. Register here.
The official NITAM website features a wealth of resources to help increase awareness, to include several case studies, a NITAM briefing, posters created around the ‘Deter, Detect, Mitigate’ theme, and a variety of training tools.

“Regardless of how you choose to participate,” said Cattler, “please know that your actions and contributions support our collective effort to identify and mitigate insider threats to our national security.”