Intelligence gathering is a legitimate common practice in the competitive marketplace. It involves the targeting of a competitor for the acquisition of accessible information that will help a company improve its status in the marketplace in competition with the targeted company. Although it is impossible for a company to prevent a competitor from obtaining certain financial and product information that must be filed in public domains, companies must make an effort to counter the collection of information that can and should remain inaccessible to competitors. Such efforts are based in the development of a mind-set throughout a company that fosters counterintelligence. Employees must be aware of what competitors want to know, the techniques they might use to gain such knowledge, and the steps required to reduce their chances of acquiring such information. Employees should be instructed never to give company information over the phone to anyone they do not know. Information releases should also be monitored to ensure they do not benefit a competitor. Personnel who deal with vendors that also service competitors should limit disclosures to what vendors must know to meet the company's needs.