The precise impact that the forthcoming insider threat standards will have on the private sector is unclear, but it will likely be limited. While defense contractors with access to classified military networks will almost certainly have to hew to the forthcoming guidelines for insider threat detection, Swift explained that the president's executive order explicitly does not extend to private companies writ large. At the same time, the guidelines the government develops could inform or serve as a template for the best practices that businesses put in place, just as the task force is doing its work in consultation with the private sector.

"The executive order applies to federal agencies and departments. It doesn't apply to the private sector as a separate entity. Now, the insider threat standards that will be developed will be of use to individual companies and corporations. There's no reason why they wouldn't be of use," he said. "Having said that, the task force itself and others are reaching out to bring in the expertise of private-sector corporations so those standards are not developed in the blind."

in CIO's Government Drilldown.