Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

What is industrial espionage?

1. Unauthorized acquisition of data

2. Encouragement of corporate collaboration

3. Protection against cyber attacks

4. Legal monitoring of competition

The correct answer is: Unauthorized acquisition of data

Industrial espionage refers specifically to the unauthorized acquisition of confidential and proprietary information from a business or organization. This can include trade secrets, business plans, customer lists, and technical data. The intent behind such actions is usually to gain a competitive advantage, allowing an individual or company to leverage the information in ways that may harm the original owner or further their own business objectives. The other options promote legitimate practices or defensive measures rather than the covert or deceptive actions characteristic of industrial espionage. For instance, encouraging corporate collaboration focuses on partnership and transparency between businesses, protection against cyber attacks emphasizes securing data through legitimate means, and legal monitoring involves observing competitors within the bounds of the law. All of these are ethical approaches to business strategy and competition, contrasting sharply with the illicit nature of industrial espionage.