Protection Strategies for Insider Threats to Cultural Institutions

Organizations face myriad unique security challenges, including the rising threat from insiders—those with privileged access who can cause harm from within, whether through malicious intent or unintentionally.

The U.S. government has a robust insider threat program to protect high-risk assets, including nuclear and defense programs. In this session, our expert will break down how these strategies can easily be adapted to safeguard cultural properties from internal risks. Learn how to identify warning signs, implement key program elements, and enhance security without disrupting organizational culture. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define the five categories of insider threats and recognize common warning signs.
• Examine real-world case studies and the challenges of insider threat detection.
• Identify key elements of an effective insider threat program.
• Understand how government best practices can be adapted to cultural institutions.

About your presenter: Dr. Jennifer Hesterman is a retired Air Force colonel who served in three Pentagon tours and commanded in the field multiple times. Her final assignment was Vice Commander, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, where she led installation security, including protection of Air Force One. Dr. Hesterman is a counterterrorism and soft target hardening expert, working with cultural institutions, businesses, sports venues, educational institutions, houses of worship,  and critical infrastructure sites to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities. She advises the Homeland Security Training Institute, the Crisis Response Journal, and 2 DHS Security Centers of Excellence. Her book Soft Target Hardening: Protecting People from Attack was the ASIS Security Industry Book of the Year in 2015. The second edition received the same honors in 2019 and was the Social Sciences Book of the Year for Taylor & Francis. Dr. Hesterman is an analog astronaut and participates in human spaceflight training and deep space simulations. She conducts human factors research and tests food, spacesuits, technology and tools. She is training for her lifelong goal of space travel.