The first step is awareness
In times when digital technologies know no boundaries, innovations are becoming an increasingly valuable resource. The competitive edge of companies is typically short-lived. There is a relatively short amount of time rom the starting idea to the actual material production of the good in question. This quick turnaround is in part because of the significant risk of being spied upon by industrial spies thus for the entire company to be put in jeopardy. For quite some time, it has been clear that such crimes affect more than a miniscule portion of the companies in existence: according to Michael George, from the Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and author of the book "Geh@ckt" ("Hacked"), the prosperity of every individual is at stake. The entire economy is threatened, where growth and innovation are key elements of success and prosperity.
The NSA wiretapping scandal has given way to more than just a higher awareness of IT security, cybercrime and and espionage operations. It also made the true extent of cybercrime known to the public
In the course of the so-called Third Industrial Revolution, which provides for a closer relationship between IT and production, the digitization of espionage has become an essential factor in the development of industrial espionage. Medium-sized companies that do not see themselves as potential targets for an attack the same way as large companies are particularly affected. The main targets for spies are the German mechanical and plant engineering industries.
The methods of industrial espionage are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which makes the detection of both attackers and attacks more difficult Social engineering is a keyword here. The spying in this case is done by an individual, in which he enters the environment of the victim, assumes a false identity and thereby is able to access all the valuable information he desires.
It is therefore necessary to enact legal, technical and personnel-related preventative measures to protect the existence of the company and its innovations as well as to increase awareness among company employees.
The security industry is benefiting the most from these latest developments – but even with the support of a reliable security body, caution is still required. Important points of contact for the procurement of information can be found at the relevant state and federal authorities, such as the Federal Office for Protection of the Constitution, the Federal Intelligence Service and the Federal Office for Security in Information Technology.
The damage caused annually by industrial espionage, was estimated in 2013 to be 50 million euros, according to the "Handelsblatt." Often a company is not even aware that it has been affected by economic espionage. Therefore espionage expert Prof. Alexander Huber advises companies to look at international trade fairs to ensure that the company's intellectual or proprietary rights have not been violated.
Further links:
» Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz
» Netzwerk Elektronischer Geschäftsverkehr: "Gefahr durch Social Engineering"