Theseus Team
Security threats to an organization often come from the outside—unauthorized visitors, contractors, or opportunistic criminals. However, some of the most dangerous and difficult-to-manage threats originate from within the organization itself. These internal threats may come from trusted employees, contractors, or partners who intentionally or unintentionally put the organization at risk. For healthcare facilities, government agencies, schools, and other high-stakes environments, it's crucial to understand and proactively address both internal and external threats.
What Are Internal Threats?
Internal threats involve individuals who already have legitimate access to your facility or systems. These may include staff members, administrators, maintenance personnel, or even trusted contractors. Their actions, whether malicious or negligent, can have serious consequences. These threats may take many forms:
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Theft of property, data, or medication
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Unauthorized access to restricted areas
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Violations of privacy regulations (e.g., HIPAA)
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Acts of violence or sabotage
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Public defamation or information leaks
Example: Healthcare Facility
Consider a scenario at a secure government operations center. An employee attempts to access a server room after hours using their access badge. While the attempt is denied by the access control system, it is recorded and time-stamped. A nearby surveillance camera captures the same employee repeatedly trying to gain entry. The security team uses the integration between the access control logs and video footage to build a timeline of the incident and confront the employee. Because the event was flagged early, management can launch an investigation before any breach occurs.
Mitigating Internal Threats Through Security Systems
While internal threats can be difficult to detect, integrated physical security systems are essential tools in identifying and managing them. Some of the key strategies include:
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Background checks and pre-employment screenings
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Role-based access control (RBAC): Only granting access to spaces and systems necessary for an employee’s job function
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Credential management: Immediate deactivation of access when roles change or employment ends
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Surveillance system integration: Linking access events with video footage for quick forensic investigation
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Incident response protocols: Pre-established procedures for handling access violations, suspicious behavior, or workplace violence
Example: Healthcare Facility
In a hospital pharmacy, access is tightly controlled to prevent diversion of controlled substances. A nurse attempts to enter the pharmacy area using a badge that doesn’t grant access. The system logs multiple failed entry attempts. A camera located above the pharmacy door captures video of the incident, which is later reviewed by hospital security. The integration of access control with video surveillance allows security staff to present concrete evidence during the follow-up conversation. If further investigation reveals intent to divert medications, appropriate disciplinary or legal action can be taken.
Managing External Threats
While internal threats may be difficult to detect, external threats are usually easier to define but no less serious. These can include visitors, third-party contractors, delivery personnel, and anyone else who enters your facility without regular clearance.
Security systems help mitigate external threats in three main ways:
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Prevention and deterrence – Surveillance cameras and signage serve as visual deterrents to unauthorized access.
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Physical access control – Door locks, visitor management systems, and credentialed entry help keep outsiders where they belong.
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Forensic analysis – If an incident occurs, video footage, visitor logs, and credential activity can be used to investigate and take action.
Example: Public Health Agency
A third-party IT contractor at a public health agency attempts to access a restricted file room that contains sensitive health data. Although the contractor signed in properly at the front desk, they were not authorized to enter this specific room. The access control system denies entry, and an alert is triggered due to the attempt on a sensitive door. The system logs are reviewed, video footage is correlated, and the agency uses this information to address the violation with the contractor’s employer.
The Importance of Security Awareness and Training
Beyond technology, one of the most powerful defenses against both internal and external threats is a culture of security awareness. In high-pressure environments like healthcare facilities or mission-critical government operations, it’s not enough for only the security team to be vigilant. All staff should be trained to:
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Recognize suspicious behavior
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Understand access control procedures
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Report anomalies or breaches
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Know emergency response protocols
Creating a "security-minded workforce" helps extend the eyes and ears of your security operation. When everyone in the organization is empowered to participate, threats are more likely to be identified early and neutralized effectively.
Protecting a facility from internal and external threats requires more than just locks and cameras. It demands an integrated security strategy that includes technology, policy, and people. By combining smart access control, surveillance, credential management, and staff training, organizations like hospitals and government agencies can significantly reduce their risk exposure.
Security professionals should ensure their systems are not just reactive, but also proactive—designed to detect potential threats before they escalate into incidents. In today’s evolving threat landscape, vigilance and integration are key.
Want to learn more about building a resilient security operation?
Watch our free on-demand webinar, “Healthcare Ring of Security,” featuring insights that transcend healthcare and apply to any facility security program. Whether you're managing a hospital or a corporate campus, the strategies discussed can help improve your environment’s safety and operational readiness.
The "Healthcare Ring of Security" webinar is available on-demand, allowing you to watch at your convenience. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's leading experts and take your healthcare facility’s security to the next level.
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BONUS: DOWNLOAD OUR FREE IN-HOUSE SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT CONSIDERATIONS GUIDE
Security professionals are constantly looking for innovative ways to secure their facility and provide a safe environment within their budget. And, they are also constantly looking for resources to help them achieve that mission while expert advice is hard to come by.
Fortunately, we have released a considerations guide that will help security professionals perform their own in-house security risk assessment.
What's Inside?
This guide is intended to assist you with performing an in-house physical security risk assessment. In many cases, assistance from a third-party expert, like Theseus Professional Services, is required.
Identification of missing or inadequate physical security measures that safeguard assets (people, property, and information) and critical business functions is of paramount importance. The findings of a security risk assessment are used to measure and communicate the level of risk to the organization.
- Process Evaluation
- Threats
- Vulnerability Assessment Highlights
- Electronic Security Systems Considerations
- Site Considerations
- Building Entrances and Exits
- Common Functional Areas
- Building Envelope
- Utilities and Building Services
- Building Systems
