Retail department stores place security sensors at each exit that stop thieves from shoplifting valuable merchandise.

Businesses implement security procedures designed to prevent the theft of their trade secrets.  The problem is that trade secrets are ideas.  Ideas can be stolen in more ways than physically carrying paper out of the exit.

This is why savvy businesses take steps to prevent employees from using new means to steal trade secrets.  IT departments block employees’ ability to use Dropbox on work computers; the ability to send emails from work e-mail accounts to personal e-mail accounts (Gmail, etc…); and the ability to download files from work computers to flash drives.  Once done, these exit doors are closed.

But the doors are multiplying.  Employees carry cell phones with built in cameras.  They can now take pictures of blueprints, written formulas, customer lists and products under development, then secretly walk out the door with those pictures.   Employees don’t have to use their e-mail accounts to send instant, written communications to outsiders.  They now have the ability to send private messages on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  There is even an app, Snapchat, that is purposefully designed for sending text messages, photographs and videos that will automatically delete once viewed by the recipient.  It’s Mission Impossible technology on a phone.

The doors keep multiplying.