Checking a candidate's personal background to management of a company. Mission to analyze the consequences of divorce on the future of a family company. Sensitive information about an acquisition. Who decides to study in an international tender. Investigation to avoid purchasing land in India classified as hazardous for environmental reasons. These varied missions were conducted by companies specializing in competitive intelligence.
French companies have discovered in recent years the interest to better protect themselves and defend their interests.The work of evangelization led by Henri Martre, former president of the public group Aerospatiale, who joined EADS, the prefect Remy Pautrat, the UMP Bernard Carayon of the Tarn and Alain Juillet, a former senior official in charge of intelligence Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and President of the Academy of Competitive Intelligence, have raised awareness to the business they had to look after their interests.
Effervescence
In this area, however, the state still plays a leading role. Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, presented Wednesday in the new Cabinet actions by the public to help national champions to protect against external attacks.These range from business intelligence to the strengthening of security companies and research laboratories, through strengthening the influence of France in the bodies charged with enacting international standards.
The mobilization of state and business organizations as the MEDEF, CGPME and chambers of commerce has created a frenzy. In recent years, French companies in business intelligence have multiplied. The tricolor is the number one public group ADIT (Agency for the dissemination of technological information). It employs 150 analysts in France and 500 foreign correspondents, paid primarily to the mission, and carries 20 million euros of turnover. Its experts have designed the business center of Baghdad French allowing contractors to win contracts in Iraq enjoying the maximum safety.They may have offices and hotel rooms secured, an armed escort to move or ask to arrange a visit to an area. The tricolor is another great CEIS, founded in 1997 by Olivier Darrason, which is present in other sectors. Sign of the emergence of a true industry, the profession is organized with the creation of a professional syndicate.
But much remains to be done. "The market is fragmented," says Philippe Deciduous, CEO of Adit. "The French have a real lack of representation abroad, in Asia and India. They outsource too much of the Anglo-Saxons in countries like India. The expertise in financial matters is Anglo-Saxon, "said Christian Harbulot, founding director of the School of economic warfare.The French are not yet able to compete with the Anglo-Saxons, led by Kroll and Control Risks, a strong presence internationally.
The deal could change, however. "The state will open the capital of Adit up to 66% to create the European leader able to compete with the Anglo-Saxons," explains Philippe Deciduous. The computer services company Altran, the credit insurer Coface, the fund HLD Jean-Bernard Lafonta and Butler Capital funds are in the running. They laid their offerings on Nov. 19. Governments should take a decision by Christmas. Once selected, the two new shareholders will locate Adit Germany, Sweden, England, Italy and strengthen its presence in Brazil, Russia, India and China. Evidence that the intelligence beyond French borders.
New forms of attacks
• The Michelin case or failures in law
In July 2007, Clermont supplier Bridgestone is notified by its Japanese competitor, one of its former executives trying to sell strategic information on truck tires. Following the trial on 21 June, a court in Clermont-Ferrand condemns dishonest former employee to two years suspended sentence and 5,000 euro fine, plus 10,000 euros in damages. But he was acquitted of charges of "violation of trade secrets" and "acts of espionage." "This verdict would probably have been different had we been able to present the detail of the relevant policy, we do not want to do is advertise the hearing.It would introduce the camera in this type of case, "offers Andrew Dietz, the legal director of France Michelin.
• Social networks increasingly monitored
In a large construction company in 2008, the son of the CEO discovers a profile on behalf of his father on Facebook. Knowing that his father sexagenarian stands away from social networks, it alerts the management of IT services group. Facebook will one week to grant their request to close this fake profile. Eight days during which the usurper could announce an acquisition or other major event likely to impact its stock price. Another company has thanked a member of its board of directors, who recounted his day's work every night on Facebook, revealing strategic information.The Labour Court has also recently approved the dismissal for serious misconduct of three employees who had denigrated Alten their hierarchy on the Internet, sullying the reputation of the company.
• From the dark to destabilize competitors
Laboratoires Thea is a good example of influence strategy, the component "offensive" of intelligence. Their rival Monaco Europhta, advised by the Parisian firm Institutions and Enterprises, has spread a rumor about an innovative eye drops Thea, referring to dangerous side effects, based on medical reports biased and false testimony.Thea has conducted an operation against influence-which allowed him to stem the negative impact of libel on its sales to obtain redress in the courts and in October 2007 to buy its competitor.
• The racket takes many forms
Hackers sometimes seek to blackmail companies. An industry group has been paying its employees' payroll and a blocked site, e-commerce was paralyzed a few weeks before Christmas. The web page subscription online broker Saxo Bank has been duplicated and made up with an account number which transferred directly falsified Internet payments on the account of the pirate. Areva has been a target of an impostor posing as an agent of the former DGSE.Attempts at extortion are not reported by the companies who fear a negative impact on their image.
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