900 Kia Engines Stolen – What This Teaches Us About Security Blind Spots
Ishwar S Kolge CPP® PCI® ADISSM® SRMP®, IO on our ASIS ISACA Network.
Recently, Kia Motors India uncovered a staggering case of internal theft – 900 car engines stolen from its Penukonda plant over a span of 5 years, completely under the radar. The theft was only discovered during a routine year-end audit. Authorities suspect insider involvement, and investigations are still ongoing.
This isn’t just a story about theft — it’s a wake-up call about deep-rooted blind spots in security, risk management, and organizational culture.
What Did Kia Miss?
Security Risk Assessment Too often, the focus is on external threats. But internal risks — especially those involving trusted insiders — can be just as dangerous. A stronger framework could have flagged long-term anomalies.
Vulnerability Assessment From supply chains to access controls, every process has weak points. These vulnerabilities require continuous, structured assessment; across departments, not just in IT.
Broken Window Theory Unchecked minor issues (like small inventory mismatches, lax controls, or procedural shortcuts) send a dangerous message: “This is okay.” Over time, those cracks grow into full-blown breaches.
Regular Audits — Why Was This Not Caught Earlier? If audits were being conducted, why did it take 5 years to detect? This highlights the need for real-time monitoring, data reconciliation, and auditor independence to avoid blind trust in systems or staff.
To Do List
Fraud Prevention & Detection Essentials :
-Embed regular audits with real-time data monitoring
-Conduct internal threat assessments, not just perimeter checks
-Foster a zero-tolerance culture for even minor violations
-Train teams to recognize fraud red flags and escalation procedures
-Fraud doesn’t always walk in through the front door, sometimes it grows quietly, hidden in ignored warnings and overlooked systems.
Questions Worth Asking:
Is your organization actively auditing for vulnerabilities — or just ticking boxes?
Are your risk assessments only focused outward, while internal threats go unchecked
Do you have a “broken window” — a small oversight — that could lead to something much bigger?
