Insider Threat: Kira Korolev – criminal charges upgraded

The criminal charges against former Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldier Kira Korolev have been upgraded from “preparing for an espionage offence” to “conspiracy to commit espionage”.

Pentagram's podcast set outs the public advice on the upgraded espionage charge Korolev and her husband now face, then explores the significance of Korolev, as an ADF member who would have been subject to significant background checks and security vetting to gain entry into the ADF, being charged with espionage.

Further, the ADF and Defence have longstanding and mature personnel security programs, yet failed prevent Korolev's insider threat behaviour. The Australian private sector, including critical infrastructure entities, does not have personnel security systems in place that approach the maturity of the ADF's approach.

That is the core of the issue the Korolev case presents: how can critical infrastructure mitigate the insider threat with underdeveloped and generally immature systems.