Volume VII

Issue : 5: March 12, 2009

• Google and Cytrix Settle Respective Visual Voicemail Patent Suits
• PIPEDA Implications in Police Search of Passenger Manifest
• Facebook Sued Over Cyberbullying
• Illinois County Sheriff Sues Craigslist for Prostitution
• Cloud Computing Raises Concerns
• Departing Workers Taking Confidential Data
• Facebook Evidence in Personal Injury Proceeding

Home > Volume VII > Issue 5: March 12, 2009 > Departing Workers Taking Confidential Data

Departing Workers Taking Confidential Data

The Ponemon Institute recently conducted an online survey of departing employees that indicates approximately 60% of them took some confidential information belonging to their former employer with them when they departed. The Ponemon survey was commissioned by Symantec, a software company that makes products tailored to prevent this type of data loss. This confidential information is being taken through USB memory keys, burned disks and through email accounts.

Employers appear to be very lax about this situation; 24% of departing employees indicate that they still had network access after having left the employer and less than 15% of employers had any mechanisms in place to monitor the conduct of departing employees. Of those employee exit programs, only about 25% were adequate to afford the employer any real protection. In light of the state of the economy and the likelihood of further job losses, this study should serve as a wake-up call to employers to keep a careful eye on their confidential data.

For additional information, visit:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10170006-83.html