| Today more than any other time in history, | | | | information. If this person were unstable or just |
| protecting company privacy is essential. | | | | angry, he or she could cause damage to the |
| Unfortunately, the number of cases associated | | | | company through the sharing of trade secrets, |
| with identify theft have not only risen but also | | | | personal data or other sensitive information. Then |
| moved from personal to business. Over the past | | | | of course, you have people who go to work for |
| few years, a number of large companies and | | | | companies specifically for the sake of stealing |
| even government agencies have been in the | | | | private data. Although this is not as common, it |
| news for having laptop computers and vital | | | | does exist and this practice is growing. |
| information on employees and the organization | | | | Yet even with Identity Theft and Privacy being |
| itself stolen. What makes this so uncomfortable is | | | | spotlighted in the media, companies remain |
| that usually, the privacy is being threatened from | | | | surprisingly vulnerable. Organizations around the |
| within the very organization that is supposed to | | | | globe have no clue to the quantity of sensitive |
| secure it. | | | | information being leaked out but even worse, no |
| Keep in mind that while some organizations are at | | | | tracking system is in place to find out or to |
| greater risk for thefts, such as credit card | | | | correct the problem. While we often focus on the |
| companies, banks, or government agencies, even | | | | computer as a source of theft, private data can |
| the small mom and pop shops are at risk. | | | | be taken out of a company in many other ways. |
| Remember, it would only take one instance of | | | | For instance, iPods, USB sticks, or any portable |
| information leaking out to put a company | | | | device makes downloading information easy and |
| completely out of business. The problem is that | | | | covert. What happens is that in addition to the |
| not only is data being stolen, but often sold to | | | | company and employees being at risk, customer |
| criminals that know exactly how to extract what | | | | relations could be severely damaged as well due |
| they want to make a profit - at your expense. | | | | to lack of trust and confidence. |
| More than ever, it is crucial to do all you can to | | | | To give you an idea of just how data is being |
| protect your organization and employees. In | | | | taken out of organizations, 75% is with the use |
| today's flat work force, many employees use | | | | of a portable device, 63% via email attachments, |
| laptops rather than desktops. A laptop enables | | | | and 59% from content within emails. Sadly, a |
| employees to work from any location eliminating | | | | number of companies were recently surveyed |
| downtime for the field employee and increasing | | | | and of those, just 50% stated they had any |
| the efficiency of communication. However, every | | | | concern. If you are working hard to build your |
| time an employee takes the computer out of the | | | | organization, you need to take this risk seriously. |
| office, the potential risk of privacy is increased. | | | | With so many possibilities for privacy to be |
| Let us say an employee had a laptop with no | | | | robbed, it is crucial that you understand the risks |
| logon protection. This employee worked in the | | | | and then take appropriate action to correct them. |
| financial sector of the business and after going to | | | | If major data leaks can occur within tightly |
| dinner while on a business venture, he returns to | | | | secured companies such as AT&T, National Audit |
| the hotel room only to find the laptop gone. Now, | | | | Office, Veterans Affairs, and Google, then surely |
| without the computer having any type of | | | | you too can potentially be at risk. |
| password protection, anyone can gain access. | | | | Take steps to protect your trade secrets and |
| However, professional criminals can hack anything | | | | sensitive private data. This is an area worth |
| with or without protection. | | | | making an investment. With the sheer volume of |
| In addition to accidents such as this, other | | | | information that is produced daily within a |
| situations could arise putting your organization in | | | | company, it is challenging to ensure security. |
| danger. For instance, if there were a disgruntled | | | | However, taking time to understand who has |
| employee, perhaps someone passed over for a | | | | access to important data and how to best |
| promotion, or someone who knows his or her job | | | | protect it is well worth the investment of time |
| were ending, this individual may feel there is | | | | and money. After all, what would it cost you if |
| nothing to lose by leaking out or taking vital | | | | your valuable data was lost or stolen? |