Insider Threat & Trade Secret Protection
Build mature insider threat programs to protect your proprietary data and crown jewels. Progress from ad-hoc security (CMMI Level 1) to structured, measurable programs (Level 3+) with our Four Pillars approach: Train, Deter, Detect, and Enforce.
Protecting Your Proprietary Data from Insider Threats
Most companies focus security on the 10% of data covered by regulations (PII, PHI, PCI). But insiders target the other 90%—your proprietary data. Trade secrets, product roadmaps, customer lists, strategic plans, and competitive intelligence. This unregulated data is what drives your business value and competitive advantage.
We help you build mature insider threat programs (CMMI-based) to protect these crown jewels. Progress from ad-hoc, reactive security to structured, proactive programs that train employees, deter malicious behavior, detect threats early, and enforce consequences when incidents occur.
CMMI Maturity Assessment
Measure your current insider threat program maturity (Level 1-5) and identify gaps to progress from ad-hoc to structured, quantitatively-managed programs.
Proprietary Data Protection
Protect the 90% of your data that isn't regulated—trade secrets, IP, strategic plans, customer intelligence—that drives your competitive advantage.
Legal Defensibility
Establish "reasonable measures" for trade secret protection to support IP litigation under the Economic Espionage Act and Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA).
Four Pillars Approach
Complete insider threat lifecycle: Train employees on IP protection, Deter malicious behavior, Detect threats early, and Enforce consequences.
Third-Party Risk
Extend insider threat controls to contractors, vendors, and partners. Support M&A due diligence and investment security assessments.
Top 3 Reasons Trade Secret Cases Fail
We designed our assessment by working backward from trade secret litigation. Courts consistently reject claims for these three reasons—don't wait until litigation to discover your gaps.
#1: Failed to Identify
The plaintiff failed to sufficiently identify the trade secret. You can't prove something was stolen if you can't articulate what it was. Courts require specificity—not just "customer lists" but which specific customers, what data, and why it's not publicly available.
Our assessment helps you identify and document your proprietary data assets before litigation.
#2: Failed to Protect
Failed to implement reasonable measures to protect the trade secret. Courts dismiss cases when companies can't demonstrate technical and administrative controls—access restrictions, monitoring, classification, deterrent warnings, exit procedures, and documentation.
Our CMMI assessment validates your controls against the legal standard of "reasonable measures."
#3: No Legal Obligation
Never legally contracted an obligation with the employee. NDAs, employment agreements, and IP assignment clauses must exist and be properly executed. Courts can't enforce obligations that were never established. This includes contractors and third parties.
Our assessment reviews your contractual protections and identifies gaps in your legal framework.
Our Methodology: Working Backward from Litigation
We developed our 400+ question assessment framework by analyzing trade secret litigation outcomes and combining best practices from Counter-Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Third-Party Risk Management, Legal, HR, and Governance. In the absence of open-source insider threat intelligence (organizations have zero incentive to disclose), we built control validation based on what courts actually require to prove you took "reasonable measures" to protect your proprietary data.
The Four Pillars of Insider Threat Protection
A complete lifecycle approach to protecting your proprietary data and crown jewels
Train
Deter
Detect
Enforce
Train
Educate employees on IP protection and acceptable use
- IP awareness and data classification training
- Insider threat indicators recognition
- Acceptable use policies and procedures
- Role-based training programs
Deter
Implement controls that discourage malicious behavior
- Access controls and least privilege
- Monitoring and audit logging
- Clear policies with consequences
- NDA enforcement and separation of duties
Detect
Identify insider threats early through monitoring and analytics
- Behavioral analytics and anomaly detection
- Early warning indicators and alerts
- Data exfiltration monitoring
- Continuous risk assessment
Enforce
Respond effectively when threats materialize
- Incident response procedures
- Forensic readiness and documentation
- IP rights enforcement and legal action
- Post-incident analysis and improvement
Why All Four Pillars Matter
Most vendors focus only on detection technology. But effective insider threat protection requires a complete program: training employees to recognize risks, deterring malicious behavior through controls, detecting anomalies early, and enforcing consequences when incidents occur. Our CMMI-based approach helps you mature across all four pillars—not just deploy more tools.
Our Phased Engagement Approach
LeastTrust implements insider threat programs through a structured, phased approach that ensures comprehensive protection while minimizing disruption to your business operations.
Scoping
Define the scope of your insider threat program, identifying critical assets and potential vulnerabilities.
Assessment
Evaluate your current security posture, identify gaps, and determine the level of risk to your organization.
Live Planning
Develop a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for implementing your insider threat program.
Governance
Establish policies, procedures, and oversight mechanisms to ensure program effectiveness and compliance.
Integration
Integrate your insider threat program with existing security systems, HR processes, and business operations.
Reporting
Implement reporting mechanisms to track incidents, monitor program effectiveness, and inform stakeholders.
Metrics
Establish key performance indicators to measure the success of your insider threat program and identify areas for improvement.
Who We Serve
Specialized insider threat and proprietary data protection for decision-makers
General Counsels
Establish legally defensible IP protection and trade secret programs
- Demonstrate 'reasonable measures' for trade secret protection
- Legal defensibility for IP litigation (DTSA, Economic Espionage Act)
- M&A due diligence and third-party risk management
- Board reporting and governance frameworks
CISOs & Security Leaders
Build mature insider risk programs with detection and response capabilities
- Insider threat maturity progression (CMMI framework)
- Behavioral analytics and early warning indicators
- Risk quantification and measurable outcomes
- Integration with SIEM, DLP, and IAM tools
Compliance Leaders
Implement structured CMMI-based insider threat frameworks
- CMMI maturity assessment and gap analysis
- Structured program development and policies
- Continuous improvement methodology
- Third-party and vendor risk management
VCs & Investors
Protect portfolio investments with mature insider threat controls
- Due diligence assessment of portfolio company security
- Increase valuation through mature risk programs
- Protect proprietary data and competitive advantages
- Reduce investment risk from insider threats
Resources & Insights
Explore our collection of articles and resources on insider threat protection and trade secret management.
Safeguarding Your Business's Crown Jewels: Why Trade Secret Protection Matters
In today's hypercompetitive marketplace, small businesses often overlook their most valuable assets: their trade secrets. Yes! Every organization, including non-profits have trade secrets. These proprietary data assets - the "crown jewels" of your operation - can make the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
Read the full article on LinkedInThe Hidden Crisis: Why Insider Threat Statistics Fail to Capture Trade Secret Theft Reality
Discover why traditional insider threat statistics dramatically underreport trade secret theft and what this means for your organization's security strategy.
IAM Media
Read MoreSafeguarding Your Business's Crown Jewels: Why Trade Secret Protection Matters
Learn why trade secrets are crucial for businesses of all sizes and how to protect these valuable assets from insider threats.
LinkedIn Article by Tim Schnurr
Read MoreThe Proliferation of Trade Secret Litigation
An analysis of the increasing trend in trade secret litigation and what it means for businesses.
JD Supra
Read MoreCompanies Should Take Notice of the Extraterritorial Reach of U.S. Trade Secret Law
Important insights on how U.S. trade secret laws can apply internationally and what this means for global businesses.
Trade Secrets Law Blog
Read MoreReady to Secure Your Data?
Get in touch with our security experts to discuss your specific needs and how we can help protect your valuable assets.