Checklist for Mitigating Insider Threats During Mergers and Acquisitions

This checklist serves as a guide for organizations to mitigate insider threats during mergers and acquisitions (M&A). It outlines practical steps to gain an early understanding of potential insider risks before integration. The document details the importance of identifying and classifying sensitive data held by both organizations, examining historical activity for signs of misuse, and reviewing past incidents related to insider threats. It emphasizes the need to confirm data residency requirements and assess regulatory obligations. Additionally, the checklist suggests creating focused user groups for monitoring, applying least-privilege principles, and validating permissions against job functions. It also highlights the necessity of maintaining visibility into user activity and access patterns throughout the M&A lifecycle to ensure operational stability. The document concludes by stressing the importance of documenting security controls and processes to support readiness during the transition.