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Speaker, Writer, Advisor, Commentary

Christopher Burgess

Providing expertise to media outlets (Bloomberg, i24, CNN, China-TV, BBC, NBC, ABC, CBS) on a variety of topics to include, national security, online safety, security, espionage, infosec, travel security, etc. Served 30+ years within the CIA which awarded him the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal upon his retirement. Christopher co-authored the book, “Secrets Stolen, Fortunes Lost, Preventing Intellectual Property Theft and Economic Espionage in the 21st Century” and authored "Senior Online Safety" which was published in English and Spanish

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Contributor Brief·Christopher Burgess · 1 article
Updated Sep 22, 2023

Trust and empathy reduce insider threats more than security protocols alone

Burgess argues that insider risk management cannot succeed through technical controls and monitoring alone; organizations must cultivate genuine trust and psychological safety alongside robust security to address the human motivations behind insider threats. He advocates for a cultural shift in which empathy, transparent communication, and employee engagement become primary defenses, because employees who feel valued and heard are fundamentally less likely to become security liabilities.

1

article provided on insider risk and organizational culture

“Organizations that build empathy and trust alongside robust security protocols can significantly reduce exposure to insider threats.”

Insider Risk Management Programs Require Critical Thinking, Training, and a Culture of Trust

Core pillars Burgess identifies for effective insider risk mitigation

Security protocols and monitoring6
Critical thinking and training7
Organizational culture of trust9
Employee empathy and psychological safety9

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19%Security protocols
Security protocols and monitoring
Critical thinking and training
Organizational culture of trust
Employee empathy and psychological safety

3

essential components named in Burgess's insider risk framework

Critical thinking and training must be embedded into the cultural fabric, not treated as compliance theater.

Insider Risk Management Programs Require Critical Thinking, Training, and a Culture of Trust

Employees are not the threat; disconnection and devaluation create the vulnerability organizations must address.

Insider Risk Management Programs Require Critical Thinking, Training, and a Culture of Trust

“Trust is not a security weakness—it is the foundation of effective risk management.”

Themes:Trust as a security control, not a liabilityPsychological safety reduces insider threat motivationCultural transformation outweighs technical monitoring alone

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