The increasing value of intellectual property (and how to protect it)

Over the last few months, we have seen an increase in computer forensics investigations into the theft of intellectual property, both from a ‘macro’ and ‘micro’ level.  We have assisted organizations investigate allegations that their competitors procedurally and in large scale ‘steal’ their IP.  We have also seen an increase in organizations investigating current and former employees, regardless of level. This has been done covertly or overtly, depending on the scenario.

In both instances, digital evidence is key to proving (and disproving) the allegations.  We are finding more and more that mobile devices, and the digital evidence that can be taken and relied upon from them, have been crucial to these types of matters.

In one of our most recent investigations, a former director of a manufacturer ‘lost’ their phone when asked to return the work-issued device.  We were able to recover a copy of the phone from an alternative source and found messages attaching designs sent to their future, and competitor, employer.

While we are able to assist reactively in computer forensics investigations, our view is that preventative means, by way of information governance and security in a proactive sense, can be more beneficial to protecting an organization’s IP.

Check out this cool inforgraphic for more information!

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