TSCM Bug Sweep Services

The short answer: before any conversation you would not want recorded. In practice a sweep is triggered by an event or runs as part of a programme. Typical triggers are M&A negotiations, litigation preparation, board strategy sessions, diplomatic meetings, negotiations with high-value counterparties, and staff or partner changes that give someone the chance to plant a device.

A programme runs on a fixed schedule, quarterly or twice a year, and covers named rooms, vehicles and residences. One sweep gives you a baseline. It does nothing about a device planted the day after. That is why organisations under sustained intelligence interest treat TSCM as a standing control rather than a one-off: governments, defence contractors, critical-infrastructure operators and law firms with sensitive cases.

Some signs call for a sweep straight away: an unexplained change in the RF environment, phones or IT systems behaving oddly, staff hearing noises on the line, a deal lost that should have been won, or a physical event that gave someone access, such as a break-in, a new cleaning crew or maintenance work. None of these proves that a device is present. Each one is a good reason to check rather than assume you are safe.

Phase 1: briefing. Before we bring any equipment, we talk through the space (size, construction, RF environment, IT set-up), the threat picture (who has had access, what is coming up, whether there is a specific reason to suspect a device) and your governance needs (how much documentation you need, whether legal counsel should receive the findings). The briefing decides how deep the sweep goes and which instruments we bring.

Phase 2: RF sweep. Spectrum analysis maps the radio environment across the relevant bands, from MHz to GHz, to find transmitters in or next to the space. We compare the readings with the expected profile and look for anything that does not belong. GSM, 3G/4G/5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and devices on non-standard frequencies are all covered. All spectrum data is logged for the report.

Phase 3: physical and NLJD inspection. Non-linear junction detection (NLJD) picks up semiconductor junctions, the signature of electronic components, in places where there should be none: furniture cavities, wall voids, ceiling roses, sockets, picture frames. Windows and glass surfaces are checked for acoustic and laser microphone risk. We then inspect by hand every access point, fitting and cable run that could hide a device.

Phase 4: report and remediation. Findings go into a written sweep report. Any device we find is photographed, logged and removed or disabled with a witness present. The remediation plan covers the immediate step (removing the device) and the longer-term fixes (access control, cleaning arrangements, how often to sweep). The report belongs to you. Mission Support keeps no copy unless you ask us to hold one for programme management.

Boardrooms and meeting rooms. For commercial eavesdropping, the boardroom is the first target. Strategy sessions, deal negotiations, litigation preparation and board meetings all produce information that a competitor, counterparty or hostile state would pay to hear. We sweep boardrooms as one-off jobs and as part of a programme for the whole building. After each sweep we record an RF baseline, so anything new stands out the next time.

Government and diplomatic premises. Embassies, consulates, ministries and international institutions need TSCM as a standing control, not an occasional check. State actors watch diplomatic targets with more skill, persistence and patience than most companies will ever face. Our teams know diplomatic protocol, understand how classified material is handled and work with the discretion these jobs demand.

Legal and professional services. Law firms, notaries and advisers work under professional privilege. A bugged meeting room is then more than a security incident. It is a professional liability: privilege may be lost and the regulator may take an interest. We sweep legal offices and client meeting rooms on a schedule that follows their case and transaction calendar.

M&A, litigation and high-stakes negotiations. Adversaries invest in surveillance when the information is worth most: during a live deal, active litigation, a crisis or a hostile negotiation. We sweep before negotiations, clear external venues ahead of sensitive meetings, and sweep again after a suspected breach.

Executive residences and vehicles. The risk does not stop at the office door. Executives, board members, senior officials and wealthy families are also exposed at home, at second homes and in their cars. We sweep the whole property, not only the study, because a device goes where access is easy, not where the listener would prefer. Vehicle sweeps cover GPS trackers, audio devices and hardware plugged into the OBD port.

Corporate TSCM programmes. Banks, critical-infrastructure operators, defence and dual-use suppliers and large professional-services firms stay of interest all year, so single sweeps are not enough. A programme gives you monthly or quarterly sweeps of named rooms, a maintained RF baseline to spot anomalies, short-notice sweeps after an incident, and a written audit trail for regulators and your board.

The Hague. With more than 150 embassies and consulates, the International Criminal Court and a concentrated foreign intelligence presence, The Hague is where eavesdropping carries the most operational weight in the Netherlands. We carry out TSCM sweeps for diplomatic premises, government buildings, international organisations, law firms with sensitive international cases, and company offices in the Beatrixkwartier and the city centre. We follow diplomatic protocol and can schedule sweeps outside core diplomatic working hours.

Amsterdam. The Zuidas brings together multinational head offices, major law firms, M&A advisers and financial institutions, and commercially sensitive conversations happen there every day. Most of our work here is pre-deal sweeps, clearing venues for sensitive external meetings, and sweeps after a suspected leak. We cover the whole Amsterdam area, including the office parks around Schiphol.

Rotterdam. As Europe's largest port, Rotterdam carries its own intelligence risk: cargo information, logistics routes and trade secrets where commodity markets meet heavy industry. We sweep port-side offices, the head offices of shipping and freight companies, and corporate offices on the Kop van Zuid, in the port area and across the Rijnmond region.

Eindhoven and Brainport. The Brainport region around ASML, the High Tech Campus and a dense network of semiconductor and advanced-manufacturing suppliers holds some of the most valuable intellectual property in Europe. Industrial espionage aimed at photolithography, chip design and advanced production processes is an active and documented threat. We sweep technology companies, R&D sites and executive offices across North Brabant, where a single leak can cost a competitive lead or a patent position.