The Belfer Center’s Intelligence Project at Harvard University has developed a database of 70 companies specializing in Corporate Intelligence, operating in over 170 countries and offering over 265 geopolitical and security services (from regional or tailored geopolitical analysis to integrated services, strategic intelligence consulting, security measures, or specific sector support).

The demand for private intelligence providers is steadily increasing. As of 2022, it was estimated that Security services in the USA amounted to $48.1 billion, with about 10% of this expenditure allocated to global cyber threat intelligence (specifically $4.93 billion). This estimate does not include intelligence on geopolitical and security risks. With the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war and USA-China tensions, it is likely that this demand has significantly increased on both sides of the Atlantic.

As more corporate teams rely on Private Intelligence providers to understand geopolitical and security operating conditions, it is crucial for corporate leadership and their intelligence teams to make the best choice aligned with their needs, risk level, and corporate ethics.

Quote: “The best intelligence goes to the best clients” – Paul Kolbe, former CIA officer and former head of BP intelligence.

From the systematic analysis of this ecosystem, the authors of Harvard University’s Belfer Center Intelligence Project identified four key questions that business decision-makers should ask to maximize the ROI from Corporate Intelligence providers (here and below are their conclusions – Robson-Morrow, Maria, Katherine Tucker, and Paul Kolbe. “Intelligence Vendor Checklist.” Harvard Business Review, January 16, 2024).

For each point, we have added explanatory reflections.

1. Does the provider’s experience meet my needs?

• The provider has clear specialties supported by deep experience.
• They invest in their people through continuous training and development.
• The provider closely supervises subcontractors and has insight into their collection methods.

Once the security team has focused on needs and priorities, it is appropriate to evaluate providers based on the match between the provider’s expertise and your primary goals. While corporate teams might rely on a single Intelligence provider—due to economies of scale, procurement, and simpler relationships—most providers lack the capacity or resources to cover numerous areas of expertise and use external subcontractors to expand their service offerings, with results strongly dependent on control and oversight. Therefore, identifying specific expertise and aligning it with your needs is crucial for maximizing the partnership.

2. Does the provider adapt to my needs?

• The provider has provided proof or a demo.
• They have explained how they can tailor their services to meet our needs.
• They  have sufficiently discussed their qualifications and access to sources to build trust in the quality of their intelligence.

According to a survey, 65% of providers offer tailored solutions or customizations of standard products. On one hand, the company has specific needs; on the other hand, a provider has “standard” products that are best tested to request customization and manage the budget more efficiently, avoiding reports lacking content depth or requiring costly integrations.

3. Is the provider’s code of ethics aligned with mine?

• They have a solid code of ethics that aligns with our values and compliance standards.
• They have a proven track record of resolving legal or compliance issues or refusing suspicious work.
• They will protect our data.

Corporate security professionals often struggle to assess the reliability and accuracy of information or the methods used to obtain it (illegal corporate espionage or ethical methods?) and typically rely on peer references. It is also advisable to verify the provider’s code of ethics to compare it with your organization’s code.

4. Am I supporting my provider?

• I know what they need from us to succeed.
• They are open to collaborating with us and developing intelligence requirements together.
• I am confident that we will have dialogue and they will respond to our needs.

The most effective relationships between provider and client are built on trust and transparency (not secrecy or reluctance). To achieve optimal results, it is essential to involve intelligence consultants in the decision-making process, sharing goals and strategies, and to consider them as partners, not just service providers, to offer solutions truly suited to the client’s needs.

If you are looking for a partner in Corporate Intelligence like Kriptia, we recommend using this evaluation checklist. Taking time to select the right corporate intelligence provider ensures better risk mitigation and higher ROI on the investment. For any inquiries, feel free to write to us at info@kriptia.com.