Intellectual Property Theft - Banking
National Bank – Employees leave for a competitor
A national bank had a small division with 13 employees when suddenly the divisional president and 12 employees resigned and immediately started to work for a competitor.
The bank was an existing client of the Center for Computer Forensics and the IT security department was aware of the importance of securing the computers, Blackberrys and other sources of data. The day following the employee departure the bank delivered 35 computers and other devices. CCF immediately preserved the data and performed a preliminary analysis that included a search of recently attached media to the computers. The preliminary analysis had determined that a 250GB external hard drive had been attached to the division president’s computer two days prior to his departure.
The bank indicated that there is no business reason for the external drive to be attached to the computer so counsel filed a motion to the opposing side to produce the external hard drive. When the hard drive was produced, CCF preserved the data and found all divisional documents including customer lists and business plans on the hard drive.
Based on the evidence, a restraining order to keep the 13 employees from working for the competitor was granted. Furthermore, the bank moving so quickly on the preservation helped them settle the issue quickly and economically.