The FBI?s 2005 survey of computer crime highlights several important themes. First, and most importantly, the survey illustrates the monetization of hacking. Past perception held that the average hacker was motivated by ego, not money. However, recent data shows that hacking was developed into a cottage industry as cyber criminals have developed new and innovative ways to profit from hacking. According to the FBI?s survey, over 64% of the respondents reported financial losses from the reported cyberattacks. The average cost of each cyberattack was estimated to be $24,000. From these survey results, the FBI estimated that US businesses suffered $67.2 billion of losses from computer crime in 2005. This data highlights in stark terms the threat presented by computer crime. Therefore, as hacking becomes a profit center for criminal enterprises, it should be expected that the problem of computer crime will continue to grow.

Second, the FBI?s survey highlights the seriousness and pervasiveness of the ?insider threat.? Conventional wisdom dictates that the greatest threat to an organization?s information security is from the external hacker. However, the gravest threat to an organization?s information security is more often than not from an insider: a trusted employee or contractor. According to the FBI?s 2005 computer crime survey, 44% of reported intrusions came from within the organization. Insiders represent a grave danger to an organization because they are able to use their knowledge about their organization?s infrastructure and information security policy to both wreak havoc and cover their digital fingerprints.