Corporate espionage is a main concern worldwide, especially in the Netherlands where the AVID spy service has proven itself diligent in recognizing threats to your organization or business interest. Needless to say when they give advice on how to recognize vulnerability – we should listen.
The “AVID” refers to the Dutch Secret Intelligence Service -which is recognized the world over as perhaps the best domestic spy organization on the planet.
The AIVD focuses mostly on domestic non-military threats to Dutch national security interests. These include threats to business and commercial interests in the Netherlands.
Its main activities include
- monitoring specific groups, such as leftist activists, Islamic groups, and right-wing extremists
- sourcing intelligence to and from foreign and domestic intelligence services
- performing background checks on individuals employed in “positions of trust”, specifically public office, and higher-up or privileged positions in industry (such as telecommunications, banks, the largest companies) – this ironically includes members of parliamentary oversight committees
- investigating incidents such as (terrorist) bombings and threats
- giving advice and warning about risks to national security, including advising on the protection of political figureheads
Here is key advice from AVID on how you can become aware of espionage within your organization or business:
“Many businesses and professionals are insufficiently aware that they may be for espionage (intelligence activities) by foreign governments. An interesting target In order to counter espionage, you must know how and when you or your organization has an interesting target. To help in that effort, the AIVD Vulnerability Analysis Espionage (KWAS) has been developed. One part of the KWAS is a guide to help determine whether and how vulnerable your business is.”
Do you realize that your (organization) may be a promising target for espionage
You are probably more interesting than you think.
The security awareness of espionage is low.
The cause of this is in the set KWAS put into three main elements:
- Value Consciousness : organizations and people sometimes do not realize what is the value or lack of information available to them or which they have access;
- Security Awareness : security and safety of nuclear interests do not always have sufficient attention within organizations and are subordinate to other interests;
- Interests : organizational interests and / or government short-term interests are often given more priority than the long-term interests. The abroad leakage of strategic knowledge or activity that is relevant to the Dutch national long-term safety receives insufficient attention.
Increases your resilience
The KWAS helps you analyze how vulnerable you and / or your company for espionage. It is also important to know how spying is done and where it is particularly looking for. Using the manual, you can convert this knowledge into greater resilience.
In KWAS three main recommendations for (further) strengthen resilience against espionage:
- Strengthen active awareness (among managers and employees) on the value of the information they have and the possible interest of foreign governments in this information.
- Work on a change of culture in the field of security . In addition, its users, the design of databases and data streams and the techniques used to detect incidents important points.
- Pay special attention to policy on the protection of “core interests” and the effects of policy in the interests of the Netherlands in the longer term.
Source: AVID https://www.aivd.nl/onderwerpen-0/spionage-0/kwetsbaar/
See related video: Industrial espionage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGtFxhh-AY
See video: CIA offers helping hands to battle corporate espionage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmiSWdOz0U4