It’s only natural for companies to seek out how their rivals are performing in the attempt to get a competitive edge. However, it’s a fine line between what is legal and what falls into becoming corporate espionage.
Spying cases are becoming increasingly prevalent as technological advances push more and more data online, as well as working processes.
Apple, one of the world’s biggest organisations and most-recognisable brands has been hit with two espionage attempts in the past year.
Keeping your most sensitive data under wraps is crucial in maintaining your company’s unique selling points and trade strengths, but how best to protect yourself?
What is corporate espionage?
LegalMatch lists the following as the most common examples of corporate espionage:
- Breaking into company files or trespassing onto property
- Posing as a worker in order to learn company trade secrets or other confidential information
- Placing a wiretap on a competitor’s phone
- Hacking into computers
- Sending viruses or malware to a competitor’s website
Which industries are most at risk of corporate espionage?
Companies with bigger R&D departments are typically those most often targeted.
The computer, automotive, energy, aerospace, homeland security and chemical industries will often have elements of their businesses that they would want, or require by law, to keep secret.
How to prevent corporate espionage
Assess the risks: What data is most precious to your company’s needs and immediate future? Who has access to it? Are there pressure points in your security systems? Only once you know all this can you properly protect it.
Establish protocols: From top to bottom, data protection must be in the minds of all employees in any business. A properly written rulebook, with clear instructions will prevent those from sleepwalking into potentially costly breaches.
Maintain proper policy: A ‘need to know’ policy is best applied in situations like this. Limiting access to only those who explicitly need data narrows the chances of it being accessed by someone who absolutely should not.
Get the right infrastructure: Firewalls and anti-malware software are the first steps. Withers can strengthen your technological defences further to protect against those trying to get in, and those trying to leak things out.
Educate the workforce: Inadvertent data leaks can cripple a business if employees are not aware of the responsibilities they can hold. Ensure passwords are as strong as possible and make sure it is made clear to staff how to protect against threats.