What can make it difficult to distinguish between malicious actions and legitimate ones?

Distinguishing between malicious actions and legitimate ones can be particularly challenging because individuals often lack the necessary context or insight to make that determination independently. This complexity arises in environments where both types of actions may appear similar at first glance. For example, an employee accessing sensitive information could be performing a legitimate task related to their job or could be attempting to misuse that information. Without adequate context or understanding of the employee's role or the specific circumstances, it becomes difficult for individuals to definitively classify the action as malicious or legitimate.

The notion that employees have clear job descriptions does not necessarily contribute to this ambiguity; rather, it typically provides clarity regarding expected behavior. While monitoring can aid in identifying unusual patterns, it doesn't inherently resolve the difficulties in interpretation. Immediate reports of insider threats may indicate vigilance but can also lead to hasty conclusions without thorough investigation, again complicating the differentiation between legitimate and malicious activities.