What is the PRIMARY reason an organization should include background checks on roles with elevated access to production as part of its hiring process?

While reducing internal threats is a key outcome, "eliminate risk associated with personnel" is a broader statement that encompasses not just malicious threats but also other aspects of human-related risk, which background checks aim to address comprehensively.

Background checks address human risk factors, not technical system vulnerabilities; they do not directly reduce exposure to software or hardware flaws.

Background checks are primarily used to eliminate (or significantly reduce) risk associated with personnel by verifying a candidate's history, integrity, and trustworthiness, particularly for roles with elevated access to sensitive production environments. This process aims to prevent individuals with potential character flaws, criminal records, or undisclosed issues from being placed in positions where they could exploit their access for malicious purposes or through negligence, thereby addressing a broad spectrum of human-related risks.

Ensuring new hires have the required skills is assessed through technical evaluations, interviews, and reference checks, not primarily through background checks, which focus on integrity and past conduct.