Protecting your company from an employee IT breach

AsiaoneBusiness has an interesting online article about the options open to businesses when an employee breaches the IT security policies it has set forth. Most companies have IT confidentiality policies, but this doesn't prevent negligent or unethical employee breaking of the rules.

Most confidential information including pay records, financial transactions, HR information is stored electronically and a saavy employee may be able to utilize this for their own gain. Clearly, once the culprit is identified the first step is termination, but there are more options. Even if there is no confidentiality agreement in place, the company can sue the employee under certain stipulations.

The information used must be, in fact, confidential and there must be an inherent understanding of this by the company and employee. Most importantly, the information must be used by a third party without the companies consent. Often this situations fall under the Computer Misuse Act. Offenses under this act can be punishable by fines or imprisonment.

If a breach is suspected, particularly which could hamper business or make a business's employees or customers vulnerable, a police report should be filed immediately. Charges can include theft, fraud or even trespassing. Companies can also sue for copyright infringement. It's always important to have the strongest IT security systems in place to make such actions as difficult as possible.

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Image Source BBC UK