Even when reporters aren't prowling around, stealthy firms typically require everyone privy to secrets to sign confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements. Investors, partners, suppliers, customers, prospects, employees and even job applicants may be asked to promise in writing that they won't reveal anything they learn about company activities. Unfortunately, nondisclosure agreements are sometimes difficult to enforce in court. And some people simply won't sign them. Venture capitalists, Sommer says, routinely declined to initial his confidentiality agreements, forcing him to seek money from individuals and corporations willing to agree to secrecy.
Stealthy strategies can get quite involved.
For instance, many companies in stealth mode operate under a code name designed to throw the inquisitive off track. If your secrets are extremely sensitive, take extra care to physically secure them, keeping computers and files under lock and key, and even shredding your trash. That's not as paranoid as it sounds. Last year, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison admitted to hiring detectives to ransack Microsoft's garbage in an attempt to learn its archrival's strategies. Being stealthy can cost you customers, employees, partners and sales.