This study examined the institutional improvement directions of industrial security
programs, particularly focusing upon policies and practices in the U.S., to enhance
the effectiveness of industrial security programs in Korea. This study also aimed to
investigate the significance of institutional and/or policy implementations in
preventing economic espionage attempt.
Data leakage and/or loss of trade secrets in corporations has been a scary
proposition and a serious headache to both the CEOs and the CSOs(Chief Security
Officers). Security professionals or practitioners have always had to deal with data
leakage issues that arise from e-mail, instant messaging(IM), and other Internet
communication channels. In addition, with the proliferation of wireless and mobile
technology, it\'s now much easier than ever for loss by data breaches to occur, whether
accidentally or maliciously or even by an economic espionage attempt.
The researcher in this study used both a case study and a comparative research
to analyze the different strategies and approaches between the U.S. and Korea in
regard of implementing policies to mitigate damages by economic espionage attempts
and prevent them from occurring. The researcher first examined the current policies
and practices in the U.S. in terms of federal government\'s and agencies\' approach
and strategies on industrial security programs and their partnerships with
private--commercial--sectors.
The purpose of this paper is to explain and suggest selected findings, and a
discussion of actions to be taken on implementing a proactive and tactical approach
to enhance the effectiveness of industrial security programs to fight against
information loss or data leaks. This study used case reviews, literatures, newspapers,
articles, and Internet resources relating to the subject of this study for triangulation
of data. The findings during this research are as follows.
This research suggests that both the private and the governmental sector should closely cooperate in the filed of industrial security to strengthen its traditional
prevention strategies and reduce opportunities of economic espionage as well. This
study finally recognizes both the very importance of institutional development led
by the Government in preventing economic espionage attempts and its effectiveness
when properly united with effective industrial security programs.
Key Word : Industrial Security, Information Leaks, Economic Espionage,
Trade Secrets, Industrial Security Programs, Security Professionals