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At
Talon
Executive
Services,
Inc.
we
pride
ourselves
in
providing
the
highest
quality
professional
security
service
to
business
and
industry,
without
the
prohibitive
costs
commonly
associated
with
such
services.
TALON
is
fully
licensed
and
insured,
and
is
unequaled
in
professionalism,
training,
experience
and
integrity.
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By: Robyn Williams
In the 21st century, business is conducted
and profits are
generated through
the control and
dissemination
of proprietary
data and information.
People who were
once regarded
as the most valuable
asset within a
company have been
replaced by proprietary
information, otherwise
known as the company’s
"crown jewels".
Because of this,
businesses are
now faced with
the overwhelming
task of protecting
their "crown jewels"
as the lust for
valuable data
increases and
the profits of
such theft become
more alluring.
Companies and
corporations engaged
in R & D research
are particularly
at risk. They
spend billions
of dollars producing
proprietary products
and information
only to have their
valuable data
stolen and converted
by another company
or country.
The F.B.I. estimates
that American
companies lose
over $500 billion
dollars a year
to corporate espionage.
A White House
report adds that
roughly 6 million
jobs were also
lost to this unethical
pursuit last year.
The harsh reality
is that proprietary
theft does more
to damage business
than any other
security intrusion.
Although the statistics
are alarming,
most business
executives do
not feel any sense
of urgency and
few companies
have increased
security protective
measures.
What’s even more disturbing is the
threat is not
from without but
from within. Employees
perpetrate the
greatest number
of threats to
corporations.
Over 75% of information
loss can be attributed
to people who
have a trusted
relationship within
the company (ASIS).
Employees of Omega,
a former computer
network administration,
cost the company
10 million dollars
by deleting important
proprietary information.
Consequently the
company no longer
exists. Volkswagen,
one of the largest
automobile makers
in the world,
was forced to
write General
Motors a check
for $100 million
dollars and agree
to purchase $1
billion dollars
worth of auto
parts because
a former employee
traded highly
classified secrets
to the competition.
Eliminating vulnerabilities and protecting the
"crown jewels"
from employee
theft and overall
espionage should
be a high priority
for those who
want their company
to profit and
succeed. But it
is difficult to
create a secure
proof program
that will completely
protect proprietary
information. A
research team
recently uncovered
serious security
problems with
Microsoft’s Windows
software that
could allow hackers
to quietly break
into their computers
to steal files,
delete data or
eavesdrop on sensitive
information. Not
only was this
one of the most
serious Microsoft
vulnerabilities
ever released
but it highlights
the risks involved
in relying on
security solutions
that may appear
protective but
are hollow in
their defense.
To be effective in reducing the threats
American Corporations
face you must
take the following
steps to harden
the target:
• Conduct complete
background checks
on potential &
current employees
• Reinforce security awareness training
• Have employees sign confidentiality
agreements
• Conduct physical
security risk
and vulnerability
assessments
• Develop infosec security policies
and procedures
• Monitor employee computer communications
• Integrate a shredding policy for
hard copy information
• Do not allow
janitors unfettered
access after hours
As the global market place shrinks,
competition for
technology and
trade secrets
becomes more important
than ever. Losing
millions of dollars
to espionage is
a high price to
pay for not instituting
strategic security
measures to be
pro-active in
protecting your
company’s "crown
jewels".
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