The importance of cybersecurity in protecting intellectual property

No matter the industry or the scope of the organization, a business must fight to protect their intellectual property to ensure a strong position within the market. As cybercriminals evolve their tools and techniques, a business must also improve the sophistication of their security methods.

Gone are the days when a sturdy padlock and a heavy-duty safe were all it took to protect company secrets. Now, physical security is only a small portion of what a company must focus on. Over the last two decades, business data has steadily moved from the physical environment to digital storage. Employees access this data through passwords, firewalls and encryption. Unfortunately, those who would harm an organization can often circumvent these protection methods.

What can a company do to protect itself?

With a company relying more and more on cloud storage, digital communication and secure servers, it is crucial they enhance their protection in many ways, including:

• Eliminate access for former employees: Whether it is deleting passwords, collecting access cards, shifting information or a combination of all, an organization must act quickly to ensure a former employee cannot access the secure network.
• Encrypted communications: Many organizations rely on email, direct messaging or instant communication through programs such as Microsoft Teams or Cisco Webex. It is important that the business protects these communications as access could mean the loss of secure data.
• Employee education: It is imperative that the organization takes steps to ensure their employees understand the evolving threats around them. From the use of a secure VPN when working offsite to rotating passwords on a regular basis, employees must understand their role in keeping the business secure.

As a business owner, as soon as you worry that an attack has been made, you must act quickly to protect the organization. Often, this means enlisting the aid of an experienced legal professional to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Do not hesitate to seek guidance in these complex matters before it is too late.