Corporate and Business Espionage
Concerns
Corporate espionage is a threat to any business whose livelihood depends on information. Any of this informations could be of great financial benefit to a scrupulous individual or competitor, while having devastating financial effects on the target company. Information can make the difference between success or failure or profit or loss in the business world.
A company can suffer significant financial losses if it loses intellectual property (IP), which can include trade secrets, software and designs. IP can make up more than 80% of a company's value and its loss can have a number of consequences, including:
Lost Revenue
Decreased Market Share
Increased Expenses
Legal Consequences
Lost Opportunities
Forfeiture of First-To-Market Advantage
Privacy Sweepers
Reasons Why
Effects of a Breach
Effects of a Breach
Disgruntled or Fired Employee
Financial Gain (Money)
To Gain a Competitive Edge
Steal Clients or Suppliers
Gain Information on Stocks or Investors
The Thrill Of It (To Be A Spy)
Revenge
By Accident - Unintentially
Effects of a Breach
Effects of a Breach
Effects of a Breach
Loss of Intellectual Property
Damage to Business and Personal Reputation
Lead to Legal Issues
Loss of Clients and Business
Distort Competitive Markets
Lose Investors
Erode Public Trust in Institution or Business
Potential Signs
Effects of a Breach
Preventive Measures
Unexpected or Unexplained Financial Losses or Gains
Loss of Business or Clients
Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Information
Unauthorized or Unidentifiable Personnel Roaming Around
Suspicious Network Activity or Data Exfiltration
Suspicious Vehicles or People
Others Know Your Confidential Business or Trade Secrets
Outcomes of Secret Meetings are
Unexpected or Unexplained Financial Losses or Gains
Loss of Business or Clients
Unauthorized Access to Sensitive Information
Unauthorized or Unidentifiable Personnel Roaming Around
Suspicious Network Activity or Data Exfiltration
Suspicious Vehicles or People
Others Know Your Confidential Business or Trade Secrets
Outcomes of Secret Meetings are Less Than Secret
A Vendor Has Given You Any Type of Electronic Device
You Have Uneasy Feeling That Your Private or Confidential Information May Not Be Private
Preventive Measures
Effects of a Breach
Preventive Measures
Conduct Regular Security Audits
Implement Access Controls
Train Employees
Monitor Network Activity
Secure Physical Assets
Secure Intellectual Property
Conduct Background Checks
Implement Data Loss Program
Non Disclosure Agreements
Monitor Supply Chain
Conduct Risk Assessment
Place "No Trespassing" on Trash Dumpsters
Conduct Technical Surveillance Countermeasures Sweeps
Privacy Sweepers
IT Security Concerns
Hacking is considered one of the top three methods for obtaining trade secrets. The vast majority of corporate espionage cases involve stealing data from computers. Two means can extract computer data - through hardware or software. Hardware involves planting a device within a system, whereas software is through remote means, like malicious software or hacking.
A few examples of malicious software include Spyware, Shareware, Ransomware, Adware, Malware, Trojan Horses And Viruses.
Wireless communication networks to transmit information can be vulnerable to interception as well as Malware installed on routers.