The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answers are:
- Yes, becoming involved in real estate demonstrates risk taking and may indicate a person is more susceptible to targeting.
- Yes, significant debt is a known stressor that may increase insider threat vulnerability.
Explanation
Mateo is at an increased vulnerability of becoming an insider threat for two primary reasons related to his financial situation and behavior.
The most significant factor is that substantial personal debt is a universally recognized stressor that increases insider threat risk. This aligns with common frameworks used to understand insider motivations, such as MICE (Money, Ideology, Coercion, Ego). Mateo’s significant debt places him squarely in the “Money” category. An individual under severe financial pressure may be more desperate and therefore more susceptible to bribery or coercion. Malicious actors could target him, offering a financial solution to his debt in exchange for access to sensitive company information or systems. The pressure of the debt could cause him to rationalize actions he would not normally consider, viewing them as a necessary means to resolve his financial crisis.
Additionally, his decision to flip a house demonstrates a level of comfort with financial risk. While real estate investment is a legitimate activity, it is also inherently a high-risk venture. This pattern of risk-taking behavior can be a contributing indicator for vulnerability. An individual who is willing to take significant financial risks in their personal life might also be more inclined to take risks in their professional life, especially when under duress. This behavioral trait, combined with the acute financial stress from the failed investment, makes him a more likely target for recruitment by those seeking to exploit insiders.
The other options are incorrect because the source of debt does not negate the risk, and insider threats are not exclusively driven by a pre-existing motivation to cause harm. Financial desperation is a powerful motivator in itself.
