March 07 2016, 19:04

I have reviewed many companies, both my own and others, and I believe that the whole industry of corporate espionage does not receive enough attention from security services and industrial spies alike 🙂

Most major companies, at least in Russia, are poorly protected against prying ears and eyes, but this is compensated by a “lack of demand” from these ears and eyes. So, it seems there is not much of a problem.

Personally, I am very meticulous about these matters, but every next major company makes me get used to the idea that “there are no threats in this area.” At the moment, I am working in an organization where things are more than fine with this issue, so comparing it, I remembered my previous experience and am eager to share my thoughts.

First. In any large company with more than 100 people, the presence of a stranger in the kitchen bothers no one. Especially if he is neatly dressed and with a laptop. No one will ever come up and ask who he is, where he’s from, and what he wants in general.

True, you still need to get into that kitchen. How?

Second. The presence of a person discussing something on the phone in the security lobby, without outerwear and bags, automatically categorizes him as “one of us” – but in reality, he’s waiting for a convenient moment. Without a phone, someone might approach him offering help, but here it seems the person is busy. Most elderly guards in uniform easily let such a person in along with a crowd, especially during the lunch break and if technically possible (see below). Then there are the secretaries – they rarely play the role of traffic watchers. Secretaries most often do not care who enters and when. You make a stone-faced expression, and walk right past.

Third. In half the cases, after passing an interview, one can easily stay in the company – on the same kitchen (although you might catch an HR’s eye after two hours). Ideally with a laptop and without outerwear. How much can you overhear in the kitchen?

Fourth. During the lunch break, the nearest decent restaurant gathers the top executives, and they discuss, of course, work. Sometimes, having lunch at a competitor’s restaurant is worth winning a tender. Never have I heard or seen this issue being regulated anywhere.

Many companies replace live guards with “card-based” locks. If you watch how these cards are used during the same lunch break, it’s seen that one card lets in two or three people. Very often they don’t even know each other. Stop with a finger, and you’re in.

Such industrial espionage in Russia is not punishable, but it can cause significant damage to a company. As I recall, how much important stuff we discussed in kitchens and restaurants..

P.S. And yes, has no one thought about staying overnight in a foreign company, having gotten there as a guest stuck in the kitchen? What can be done in one night – I’m not even discussing. There’s no proper security because security generally doesn’t know who is ours and who is not. Even if security catches and calls the police – essentially, there’s nothing to charge the person with if he didn’t steal anything, only walked around reading papers stuck to monitors, with passwords and other good stuff. Or discreetly photographed: apps sending photos/videos to the cloud and deleting them from the phone can be easily found on Google Play.

The lack of attention to such things is successfully compensated by a shortage of daredevils. Until the first incident, no one really cares. How about you?