Technology Warfare: Another Modality in Unrestricted Warfare

FACTS

In a recent survey, 88% of respondents believed their business information has been attacked by other companies.

Companies conducting business on line are 57% more likely to experience a proprietary information leak than their more traditional counterparts.

Protecting Intellectual Property

Organizations must take measure to protect their IP assets. Hacking, dumpster-diving, eavesdropping and infiltration are all techniques used to steal technology and secret information. The following is a basic checklist to help protect an organization’s IP assets.

1. Inventory your IP assets
2. Identify and label all IP assets and associated information appropriately
3. Make the information associated with the IP asset proprietary and limit access
4. Perform a risk assessment on each of the IP assets
5. Develop a security program for each IP asset based on the determined risk
6. Lock it up, encrypt it, keep it behind closed doors, limit access, track access and monitor the area where it is stored and used
7. Make sure you take the protective steps necessary to obtain legal protection of the IP
8. Educate employees as to their responsibilities. (This is one of the most important steps in protecting your IP assets.).
9. Make sure there are non-disclosure agreements in place with employees, contractors, temporary workers, consultants and service providers
10. Make sure all company information and assets are retrieved when employees and others leave the organization
11. Look at leased electronic equipment like computers, cell phones, PDAs, copiers, and fax machines that may store documents and ensure they are properly cleared of data before returning them
12. Maintain all computers with up-to-date software and include firewalls, anti-virus and spyware protection.

No matter how much you spend and/or what steps you take you cannot be 100% secure. Vigilance is the key to keeping these threats in check. Subsequently, employee awareness education and a robust independent review program increase your abilities to manage this risk.

For additional information on this topic please see the following Spy-Ops training briefs:

1. Corporate Espionage
2. Computer Crime
3. White-Collar Crime
4. Social Engineering
5. Computer Hacking
6. Smuggling

Summary

Technology warfare is all too common in today’s technology intensive society. Theft of intellectual property and technology is a huge problem that continues to grow. Whether for military supremacy, economic or competitive advantage our technology base and intellectual property is at risk. The perpetrators keep quiet for obvious reasons. The victims do so out of fear of a negative impact on their market capitalization and backlash from their customers. They also fear that the theft indicates weakness and may invite copycats by inadvertently revealing vulnerabilities. It is also not uncommon for competitors to take advantage of the negative publicity. Secured systems and facilities, combined with rigorous employee screening can reduce the risk. Add to that a threat awareness education program for all employees, and you can effectively manage the risk posed by technology warfare.