Getvisibility DDR Use Case: The Hidden Risk of an Employee on a PIP

The Hidden Risk of an Employee on a PIP

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This is the kind of scenario every employer dreads and it happens more often than we might think. Imagine an experienced project manager. For years, they’ve been the backbone of their team, delivering results and contributing to the company’s success. 

But something has changed. They’ve been disengaged for months, missing deadlines, brushing off feedback and generally just going through the motions. They’ve become the personification of ‘quietly quitting’. All efforts to steer them back on track have failed. Finally, they’re placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).  

What happens next is as predictable as it is dangerous. Faced with an uncertain future, this employee starts planning their next career move. They update their CV, connect with recruiters and explore opportunities outside the organization. But here’s the problem: they don’t stop there.

In their final weeks, they begin accessing files they shouldn’t: sensitive client contracts, proprietary designs, financial data - anything they think might help them land a better job. They download files to a personal device, rationalizing their actions as “insurance” for their next step. No one notices. By the time the employee leaves, it’s too late.

Here are just three immediate risks this company now faces:

• Compliance Violations: If the downloaded data includes personal identifiable information (PII) or financial records that are leaked or mishandled, the company faces steep fines under GDPR, HIPAA, or similar regulations.
• Erosion of Trust: News of the breach spreads to clients, partners, and employees. Trust is fragile, and a single incident like this can damage a reputation that took years to build.
• Competitive Exposure: What happens when that ex-employee joins a competitor armed with your confidential documents - pricing strategies, trade secrets or client proposals? The result is lost contracts, diminished credibility and potentially an uphill battle to regain your position.

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Why Employees on PIPs Pose a Unique Threat

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Employees placed on a PIP are under immense pressure. They feel cornered, undervalued, and uncertain about their future. These feelings often lead to dangerous actions:

‍Frustration turns into sabotage: Some employees act out of spite, leaking sensitive data to harm the organization they feel betrayed by.

• Desperation drives exfiltration: Others see confidential data as their ticket to the next opportunity, leveraging it to gain an advantage in their job search.
• Negligence leads to exposure: Even well-intentioned employees may inadvertently create vulnerabilities. For example, copying files to build a portfolio can result in accidental data leakage.

And the worst part? Without the right systems in place, these risks stay hidden - until they surface as costly breaches.

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How Getvisibility DDR Could Have Changed the Story

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With Getvisibility DDR, this situation would have played out very differently. Let’s rewind. As soon as the project manager began accessing files outside their role, Getvisibility DDR would have noticed the unusual behavior. Its AI-driven intelligence would have flagged the anomaly, alerting the company to take immediate action.

Here’s how Getvisibility DDR protects organizations from insider threats:

Early Detection of Anomalous Behavior

Getvisibility DDR continuously monitors data interactions across all environments - cloud, on-premises and hybrid. The moment the project manager started accessing HR files, financial data, or sensitive client documents, DDR would recognize the deviation from their usual behavior.

‍Real-Time Containment

Rather than waiting for human intervention, DDR takes immediate action:

• Restricts the employee’s access to sensitive files.
• Blocks downloads to prevent data exfiltration.
• Notifies the SOC team and file owners for investigation.

Actionable Insights

Getvisibility DDR doesn’t just alert you; it provides context. The SOC team would have seen exactly which files were accessed, when, and how often, alongside the employee’s historical activity. This level of detail allows for rapid, informed decision-making.

Collaboration with Data Owners

The system also notifies relevant file owners, enabling cross-functional reviews. If the behavior is deemed intentional, access is permanently revoked, and the incident is escalated to the appropriate teams.

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The Outcome: Business Safe, Data Secured

Here’s what would have happened if Getvisibility DDR had been in place:

• No compliance violations: Sensitive data would never have left the organization, avoiding costly fines and regulatory penalties.
• No stolen data: Proprietary information would remain protected, ensuring competitors gain no unfair advantage.
• Trust intact: Clients, employees, and stakeholders would never have to question the organization’s ability to safeguard their data.

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Instead of dealing with the fallout from a breach, the organization would be focused on improving processes, fostering trust and building its future.

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Insider Threats: The Numbers Don’t Lie

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This isn’t an isolated case, it’s happening everywhere. Consider these statistics:

• 25% of insider threat incidents are caused by malicious insiders, employees or contractors who misuse their access for personal gain.
• 59% of employees who quit or are terminated admit to taking confidential or sensitive information with them.
• 31% of all data breaches in 2023 were caused by insider threats—highlighting that internal risks are as critical as external ones (IBM, 2023).

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Protect Your Data, Protect Your Company

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Getvisibility DDR gives you the tools to:

• Monitor with Precision: Track every file interaction in real time, across all environments.
• Respond Rapidly: Contain threats the moment they occur, minimizing exposure.
• Build Trust: Demonstrate to clients, employees and regulators that you take data security seriously.

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In a world where data security is critical, you can’t afford to rely on outdated tools and reactive strategies. With Getvisibility DDR, you gain visibility, control, and peace of mind, so your organization can thrive. Don’t wait for an incident to reveal vulnerabilities in your processes. Secure your data today.

‍Schedule a demo today to see how Getvisibility DDR can safeguard your organization's future.

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