Counterespionage - Protecting Your Company From Corporate Espionage

Any business can be the target of covertjournalists, or anyone with a reason for obtaining
eavesdropping; however, some are under greaterinformation about you or your company's plans.
risk than others i.e.; software developmentThe deployment of such equipment takes only
companies, high tech startups, defenseseconds and they can be easily concealed. And, as
contractors, companies awarded GSA or GPOelectronic surveillance technology improves and
contracts, or any highly competitive industry.becomes more readily available, executives,
What is the potential effect on you or yoursecurity professionals and private individuals must
business if sensitive information is intercepted byeducate themselves about what counter
an eavesdropper?surveillance methods and tools they can use to
No business in today's highly competitivesee that their interests remain safe.
marketplace is safe from the threat of corporate,A Counter Surveillance Sweep, or Technical
economic or industrial espionage. Imagine theSurveillance Countermeasure (TSCM) "Bug
financial and strategic damage to your companySweep", is one of the most effective means of
should confidential plans, trade secrets orprotecting your valuable information. These highly
competition sensitive information is leaked... If thespecialized Counter Surveillance Specialist conduct
company's security, trade secrets or confidentialsweeps or surveys that have become more
information is being breached by an insider whoeffective in recent years as the counter
happens to be working for someone else, notsurveillance technology used to find microphones,
only the top executives, but everyone in thetransmitters, and other eavesdropping devices
company is at risk of having their livelihood takenhas caught up to the sophistication level of covert
away. In any given corporation, there could besurveillance equipment. The TSCM or "Bug
hundreds or even thousands of employees thatSweep" is designed to detect the presence of
depend on that company for their income andtechnical surveillance devices. It should also identify
security. How can you protect yourself? Whatsecurity hazards or weaknesses that could leave
signs should you be on the lookout for?you or your company vulnerable to corporate,
When possible, eavesdroppers or spies take theeconomic or industrial espionage.
easiest route to a target or company's assets. InWhat can you do to protect your Business from
those situations, for example, a spy may gainElectronic Espionage: 7 steps
authorized access as an employee. In other cases,1. Recognize the signs and that there is a real
a spy might enter your home or organization as athreat.
member of the cleaning crew or gather2. Identify and valuate trade secrets.
information from employees by posing as a3. Implement a definable plan for safeguarding
vendor, potential client, or headhunter. However,your assets.
when these avenues have been compromised,4. Secure physical trade secrets and limit access.
spies will turn to electronic surveillance technology.5. Confine intellectual knowledge.
Electronic bugging devices are freely available over6. Provide ongoing security training to employees.
the web, through retail outlets and mail-order7. Contact a professional Counter Surveillance
houses. They are used by competitors,Specialist Today!
disgruntled employees, professional investigators,