Crisis Response: What to Do in the First 48 Hours After a Trade Secret Leak
A disgruntled employee posted your code. A competitor obtained your customer list. A journalist got your confidential document. These scenarios happen, and the response in the first 48 hours separates a disaster from a managed incident.
First Hours — Secure What Remains
Immediately cut off access for suspected employees.
Change passwords for every sensitive system.
Activate extended logging to detect any further movements.
Secure physical documents in safes.
Documentation
Screenshots of any leaked information posts.
Access log: who saw what, when, from which device.
Internal communications related to the leak.
Technical analysis: how did the leak happen? What was the path?
Urgent Legal Communication
An IP lawyer within hours (not days). Delaying consultation weakens your position.
Urgent legal warning to the perpetrator (if known) demanding cessation and return of information.
In serious cases: court injunction request within 24–48 hours.
Containing Spread
Takedown notices to platforms hosting the information (DMCA for YouTube, removal requests for others).
Contacting search engines to remove indexing (Google Search Console).
If media-spread: a legal PR consultation to manage the narrative.
Internal Investigation
Who is responsible? How did it happen? What were the security gaps?
Systematic interviews with employees with access.
A comprehensive report within a week.
Next Actions
Criminal action upon proof of bad faith (intentional leak).
Civil action for damages against the perpetrator.
Updating security and IP policies to prevent recurrence.
At Rights we serve as a "crisis response office" for clients in leak situations.
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