An employee seeking to damage his company because he did not get an expected promotion would be classified as which type of actor?

The scenario describes an employee who intends to harm the company due to personal grievances related to a promotion. This behavior aligns with the characteristics of a malicious insider. A malicious insider is an individual within an organization who engages in harmful activities against the company, which may include theft, sabotage, or leaking sensitive information.

The motivation in this case stems from discontent or the desire for revenge, which is typical of malicious insiders. They often have access to critical systems and sensitive data, allowing them to inflict significant damage. This specific context emphasizes the insider's intentionality and awareness of the impact of their actions on the organization.

In contrast to other types of actors, such as external threat actors, who originate from outside the organization, or unintentional insiders, who cause harm accidentally without malicious intent, a malicious insider's actions are deliberate and motivated by personal grievances. Trusted partners typically refer to external entities with established relationships that enhance security rather than pose a threat, making them fundamentally different from the malicious insider described in this situation.