Intellectual Property Is Focus at New Job

Computerworld - I recently resigned my position after four years to become security manager for a hardware maker. I typically change jobs every few years, for a couple of reasons. The first is to be exposed to different types of technologies, business models and cultures. To be effective in the information security field, it's important to broaden your horizons, much as consultants who work on short-term projects do.
The second reason is career enhancement and salary. We all have short- and long-term goals. Sometimes, in order to attain the next level in career progression, you have to take a new position in a new company. Of course, there's usually a change in title and an increase in compensation.
I started the new position about three weeks ago. Right now, I have a staff of two full-time security engineers serving a company of about 8,000 employees that has offices in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The company had no security manager for almost a year, and with security absorbed by multiple departments, there's been no real direction. One of my short-term projects will be to develop a security road map and include enough projects to warrant an increase in staff. I hope to expand to six employees.
Win-Win-Lose
Shortly after being hired, I was presented with a high-priority problem that can't be solved quickly. My new company makes very delicate equipment that needs to be calibrated and maintained frequently. In order to deliver this level of support, the company publishes technical manuals that the service technicians use as they work on the various pieces of equipment the company produces. This service business represents a significant portion of the company's overall revenue.
The problem is that we're losing field service technicians and support customers. Some technicians have been quitting and then using the service manuals we produce so they can work as technical consultants for our customers at a discounted price. This is a win-win-lose situation, and it's my company that's the loser.
That's just the beginning of our problems with holding on to intellectual property (IP). CAD/CAM drawings, source code and other engineering documents are also at risk of falling into the wrong hands. To make matters worse, a substantial amount of our design and engineering work is done overseas for cost reasons, and we don't have as much control, jurisdiction or recourse in relation to what foreign employees do. Plus, the culture in some of these places encourages industrial espionage as a way to stimulate the local economy.
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