On June 2, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) released a new white paper, Countering Insider Theft of National Security Technology, developed by its Insider Threat Subcommittee. Building upon INSA’s 2021 report, Insider Threats and Commercial Espionage, the paper examines the rising risk of insider-enabled intellectual property theft by foreign adversaries targeting U.S. national security technologies.
The paper finds that academic institutions, startups, and small businesses, often at the forefront of innovation in dual-use technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, face heightened risks of insider exploitation. These organizations may lack the security infrastructure and threat awareness found in cleared government or industry settings, making them attractive targets for foreign actors seeking to acquire U.S. intellectual property.
To help close these gaps, the authors offer a series of recommendations to strengthen safeguards across the broader innovation ecosystem, including the formation of a multi-agency task force, improved coordination among government agencies, and support for organizations operating outside the cleared environment.
“Protecting our innovation base requires a broader, more inclusive approach to insider threat mitigation,” said INSA President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg. “This paper provides practical recommendations that can help government, academic, and industry leaders reduce risk while continuing to foster collaboration and technological progress.”
Download the paper.
Source: INSA
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