NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby gestures during a panel discussion at the Second International Symposium on Insider Threat Mitigation, March 5, 2024. Courtesy/NNSA
NNSA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Belgian Federal Agency on Nuclear Control (FANC) co-hosted the Second International Symposium on Insider Threat Mitigation in Brussels, Belgium March 5-7.
The theme of the symposium was “Expect the Unexpected: Exploring Multidisciplinary Approaches to Insider Threat Mitigation,” and it showcased how practitioners, industry, and regulators are advancing the state-of-practice for insider threat mitigation at nuclear and radiological facilities.
“The challenge of mitigating insider threats is significant but together we are making progress,” Jill Hruby said, NNSA Administrator and Under Secretary for Nuclear Security.
Insiders can pose a threat to nuclear and radiological security because their access, authority, and knowledge grant them opportunities to bypass dedicated nuclear and radiological security elements.
“This symposium is about bringing together experts from various sectors to share experiences, to learn from each other, and above all to connect and create longstanding alliances,” Annelies Verlinden said, Belgian Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform, and Democratic Renewal. “Against insider threats, the power of collaboration forms the network of our defense.”
In 2016, recognizing the international community’s need to address insider threats, the United States sponsored Information Circular 908 – Joint Statement on Mitigating Insider Threats (INFCIRC/908) at the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Joint Statement is now endorsed by 34 countries and INTERPOL.
More than 200 people from 65 countries participated in the symposium, including regulators, practitioners, industry experts, and members of academia. Participants experienced hands-on demonstrations, conducted interactive exercises, showcased key accomplishments achieved since the first symposium in 2019, and discussed “over the horizon” topics related to mitigating insider threats.
Administrator Hruby concluded, “We have increased our expertise, strengthened our tools, and shared best practices. I applaud your efforts in working to create a more secure world.”
Learn more about INFCIRC/908 and insider threat mitigation by visiting https://www.