January 24, 2025

Former Military Intelligence Agents Turned Cybersecurity Experts at CISO Global

In today’s high-stakes digital landscape, hiring remotely requires diligence and vigilance. Trust is important, but verifying that trust is non-negotiable. The consequences of negligence can extend beyond financial loss, affecting national security and the very foundations of an organization. By taking proactive measures, companies can significantly reduce the risk of hiring a spy or becoming a victim of corporate espionage.

The rise of remote work has brought with it a host of benefits, from increased flexibility to a wider talent pool. However, it also poses significant security risks, some of which can be as severe as accidentally hiring a spy. Last month, the BBC reported on a recent case out of US Federal Court in St. Louis that implicated thousands of North Korean nationals for allegedly infiltrating American companies as remote IT workers. The scheme had these agents use falsified or stolen identities of legitimate IT workers to funnel millions of dollars to the North Korean government. While such incidents seem like they belong in the realm of espionage thrillers, they represent a real and growing threat in today’s interconnected world.

The New Era of Espionage

When it comes to remote work, particularly in industries tied to critical infrastructure, intellectual property, or sensitive military projects, the risks associated with insider threats multiply. Espionage is no longer confined to dark alleyways or secret handoffs of classified files. Today, it’s as easy as gaining remote access to a company’s systems under the guise of a legitimate employee.

Former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers warned in 2016 that foreign spies are more prevalent in the U.S. now than at any time in history, including the Cold War. “They’re stealing everything. If it’s not bolted down, it’s gone. And if it’s bolted down, give them about an hour—they’ll figure out how to get that, too,” Rogers stated, highlighting how massive and overwhelming the numbers of foreign intelligence operatives have become. The same can be said for cyber espionage, which remains a significant threat in the digital era.

In the corporate sphere, U.S. technology startups and emerging tech firms are particularly at risk. A 2024 bulletin from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) outlined tactics employed by foreign actors, including routing investments through intermediaries, feigning interest during due diligence processes to acquire sensitive data, and exploiting companies that struggle financially. Such efforts undermine national security, cripple U.S. startups, and enable foreign governments and organizations to gain competitive advantages.

The Consequences of Espionage

The risk of hiring an individual working for a foreign nation’s intelligence agency or a competitor can have catastrophic consequences. Espionage isn’t limited to stealing classified military information or compromising governmental systems. It extends to intellectual property theft, operational disruptions, and even critical infrastructure sabotage. For example, cybercriminals linked to foreign states may leave ransomware in their wake, crippling operations and demanding hefty payments.

U.S. companies are also at risk of undue foreign influence through venture capital investments. The NCSC highlighted instances where U.S. firms unknowingly partnered with foreign-linked entities, later facing significant losses as a result of trade secret theft, technology transfers, or deals abandoned after intellectual property had been exposed.

Strategies to Mitigate Risk

While no strategy is foolproof, a multi-layered approach offers the best chance to avoid falling prey to insider threats or external espionage:

1. Conduct Extensive Background Checks

Employers must move beyond basic criminal checks and employment verifications. Comprehensive screening should include:

• Searching international databases
• Verifying educational credentials
• Scrutinizing social media profiles
• Reviewing financial history
• Live video interviews can further assess a candidate’s knowledge, speech patterns, and regional colloquialisms—helpful for verifying their authenticity.
• References should always be confirmed via direct, detailed conversations.

2. Protect Sensitive Assets

Companies should identify and protect their most critical assets before engaging with new hires or investors. Strategies include:

• Compartmentalizing “crown jewels”
• Restricting access based on need
• Embedding asset protections in employment contracts

3. Strengthen Monitoring and Authentication

Spies or malicious insiders might not act immediately. Vigilance over time is essential. Techniques include:

• Using advanced authentication methods like multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Monitoring device activity for remote access or unauthorized tools (e.g., virtual machines or VPNs)
• Regular audits of high-level permissions

4. Assess Foreign Investments

U.S. startups and companies must exercise caution with foreign investors. Key steps involve:

• Verifying investors’ identities, funding sources, and ownership structures
• Limiting data sharing during the negotiation process
• Establishing enforceable contracts to safeguard proprietary data

Staying Vigilant

Foreign intelligence agencies and cybercriminals increasingly exploit the global shift toward remote work, using tactics like stolen identities, faked digital profiles, and social engineering. Recognizing potential red flags is essential, whether it’s a vague work history, an eagerness to access sensitive data, or foreign investments structured to obscure their origins.

According to the NCSC, companies should collaborate with federal agencies to stay informed of evolving threats. Organizations can contact entities like the Committee on Foreign Investment in the Unted States (CFIUS) or the FBI to report potential risks or gather resources.

In today’s high-stakes digital landscape, hiring remotely requires diligence and vigilance. Trust is important, but verifying that trust is non-negotiable. The consequences of negligence can extend beyond financial loss, affecting national security and the very foundations of an organization. By taking proactive measures, companies can significantly reduce the risk of hiring a spy or becoming a victim of corporate espionage.

About the Authors

Our cybersecurity team at CISO Global represents a variety of talented individuals representing a fusion of military intelligence expertise and cutting-edge technological innovators. CISO Global is proud to have several US military veterans working among our team, who bring a distinctive strategic perspective to digital security challenges.

The team members who collaborated on this week’s blog have transitioned from protecting national security interests to safeguarding corporate and technological infrastructures, leveraging deep intelligence training and operational experience in threat detection, risk mitigation, and advanced persistent threat (APT) analysis. With collective decades of experience in high-stakes intelligence environments, our experts now apply their specialized skills to protecting organizations from sophisticated cyber threats and developing robust, proactive security strategies.

Their backgrounds span classified intelligence operations, counter-intelligence missions, and complex technological environments, providing us with a multilayered approach to cybersecurity that goes far beyond traditional technical assessments.

The post Did You Hire a Spy? Risks and Strategies for Securing Remote Workers appeared first on CISO Global.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from CISO Global authored by hmeyers. Read the original post at: https://www.ciso.inc/blog-posts/did-you-hire-a-spy/