Which action is typically taken to mitigate insider threats?

Implementing strong authentication controls is a crucial action taken to mitigate insider threats because it enhances the security posture of an organization by ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information and systems. Strong authentication measures, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), password complexity requirements, and regular password updates, create additional barriers for unauthorized individuals and help prevent malicious insider activities.

By verifying the identity of users before granting access, organizations reduce the likelihood of unauthorized data access, whether by benevolent employees unintentionally compromising security or malicious actors attempting to exploit their insider knowledge. This layer of security is especially important in environments where sensitive information is handled, as it can deter potential insider threats and reduce the chance of data breaches.

In contrast, increasing the attack surface typically exposes systems to more vulnerabilities and doesn't address the root issue of insider threats. Ignoring user activity is detrimental, as it allows potentially harmful actions to go undetected. Reducing administrative access can also enhance security; however, it is more effective when combined with strong authentication methods rather than being a standalone approach. Hence, implementing strong authentication controls stands out as a proactive and effective measure in mitigating insider threats.