| Corporate Espionage is a growing problem and threat | | | | also be used for scams, credit card fraud, and |
| to more companies than you probably think! Below I will | | | | blackmail. |
| dispense some information every business owner | | | | Much to the company's own downfall, security for this |
| should know! | | | | coveted information is often an afterthought. Most |
| What Is Corporate Espionage? | | | | corporations are developing new technologies faster |
| Espionage is the practice of obtaining information about | | | | than they can protect them. Very few companies are |
| an organization that is considered secret and | | | | spending the time and money to implement the |
| confidential without the permission of the information | | | | hardware, software, and services required to monitor |
| holder themselves. In other words... spying. Espionage | | | | and protect their information. |
| involves accessing the location where the information | | | | How Does It Happen And How Can I Fight It? |
| is actually stored- As in entering an office building to try | | | | Corporate Espionage can happen in a number of |
| and seek out the company's methods and tactics or | | | | ways, but basically it's any breach of security in your |
| gaining unauthorized access to a company computer. It | | | | company. Methods range from computer hacking, |
| also involves contacting the people who know the | | | | theft, and intimidation, to dumpster diving and personnel |
| desired information and trying to get them to slowly | | | | impersonations. |
| divulge it. | | | | A few basic things you can do to protect yourself: |
| How Dangerous Is It? | | | | 1. Make employees aware of 'Social Engineering Ploys.' |
| Corporate Espionage is a serious risk to any business | | | | Make sure they are familiar with the tactics so they |
| that depends on information. Any 'spy' who is targeting | | | | can recognize it when something happens. Set up a |
| a company is seeking inside information that the | | | | procedure for them to follow in the event they think |
| company depends on for its success. If that outsider is | | | | they are a target of a social engineering attack. |
| able to gain access to that information, then the | | | | 2. Make sure you have sufficient physical building |
| company no longer has a leg up on competition, it | | | | security. Your office building houses your employees, |
| levels the playing field. To say the very least... | | | | files, computers, servers, and all your other valuable |
| Some examples of information that is often sought | | | | information and sources. Invest in video surveillance |
| after: | | | | and make sure it gets checked often. |
| - Client List - any list of current and past clients, their | | | | 3. Keep the latest security software on your |
| contact information, and what products and services | | | | computers and servers at all times. These are |
| they purchased from you. | | | | common points of attack for any corporation so it's |
| - Supplier Agreements - information that lets others | | | | key to keep them locked up. |
| know what kind of agreements you hold with your | | | | Despite the digital world we live in, dumpster diving is |
| suppliers, your relationship with them, and what you are | | | | the most common method used to obtain confidential |
| or plan to be using them for. | | | | data without the information owner finding out. It's a |
| - Personal Records - records indicating spending habits, | | | | messy and primitive method, but is very successful in |
| income, bank balances and account numbers, | | | | acquiring trade secrets. But how can that be? |
| commonly called phone numbers, credit card accounts, | | | | Someone can just take your information right out of |
| ect. | | | | your garbage can? Yes, dumpster diving is disgusting |
| - Research Documents - any research history that | | | | and totally legal. Once you discard it onto a public |
| can help foretell where you plan to take the company | | | | street for garbage pickup, it's totally fair game. |
| in the next few years. | | | | Dumpster Divers have been successful in obtaining |
| - Prototype Plans - plans, paper work, contracts, or | | | | company phone books, organization charts, memos, |
| actual physical prototypes of a new product or | | | | company policy manuals, meeting calendars, system |
| service you plan to offer. | | | | manuals, login names and passwords, source code, |
| - A few other examples include : patents, pricing | | | | disks and tapes and much more. |
| strategies, source code, and unique manufacturing and | | | | So what can you do? |
| technological operations. | | | | Use a shredding company! Shred EVERYTHING! No |
| Any of the above information could be greatly | | | | longer is just paper print outs your biggest liability, CD's, |
| beneficial to the unauthorized individual who has stolen | | | | DVD's, hard drives, servers are all a huge threat to |
| it from you. It can lead to devastating financial effects | | | | you if they land in the wrong hands. Seek a company |
| to a company causing them to lose clients and money | | | | who has the ability to successfully destroy any and all |
| to their untrustworthy competitor. The information could | | | | confidential matter. |