The Best Security Advice from Leading Experts

Keep Company Data off Social Media

The culture of information sharing that the use of social media has created can also lead to lost trade secrets and the exposure of sensitive company information. James Pooley, an information security consultant and former Silicon Valley trial lawyer who represented clients in patent, trade secret and technology litigation, explains that one way to help mitigate the risk of social media use by employees is to put your social media policies in writing.

"Don't assume that a few informal warnings and cautionary tales will keep all your employees from tweeting and posting what they shouldn't. If your company already has general policies about the disclosure of information assets, make sure those policies become part of the official set of rules that govern employees' use of social media. Larger companies need to have these policies reviewed by legal counsel, since broad confidentiality restrictions can typically violate labor laws that guarantee employees the right to discuss their working conditions."

Read more at 6 Tips for Keeping Your Sensitive Company Info off Social Media.