In the midst of intense national debates about physical border security, highlighted in the news by
grandstanding and photo ops among politicians and presidential candidates, an equally critical discussion on sovereignty and safety is emerging: the protection of intellectual property (IP). The responsibility of safeguarding these invaluable national assets falls on our technological platforms—across networks, in the cloud, and on our collective computers. Unlike physical borders, however, the boundaries for IP protection are not constrained by geography.
Hard-Earned Assets
The analogy between defending physical territorial integrity and securing intellectual creations is profound. Whether it’s innovative software, a groundbreaking machine design, a life-changing pharmaceutical, a piece of poetry, a customer list, or an original drawing, IP represents hard-earned ingenuity. Just as physical borders protect a nation’s populace and resources, robust IP protections are pivotal for shielding the products of creativity and intellect from theft, misuse, and exploitation. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is one mechanism of protection, which merges networking and network security services into a unified cloud-based platform. SASE enables organizations to leverage cloud and mobility benefits while streamlining the management of various security products and enhancing territorial protections at the edge of the network.
Virtual Boundaries: Protecting Personal and Digital Assets
It’s time to broaden our perspective on asset protection, moving beyond tangible borders to embrace digital realms and the intellectual property contained therein. The future of innovation and sovereignty lies here, and cybersecurity and awareness play crucial roles. When defending IP against unauthorized access, theft, and misuse, there are several practical steps for robust protection:
- Understanding What Needs Protection: Intellectual Property can manifest in various forms such as inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, and brands. Recognizing the types of IP you possess is the first step towards effective protection.
- Employing Strong Access Controls: Controlling access is essential to IP safeguarding. Implement stringent access controls, such as complex passwords and multi-factor authentication, to ensure only authorized individuals can access sensitive information.
- Using Encryption: Encryption ensures that, even if data is intercepted, it remains indecipherable to unauthorized parties. Apply encryption widely across sensitive data both at rest and in transit.
- Implementing a Secure Technology Foundation: The backbone of IP protection is secure storage and communication systems. Utilize encrypted databases and secure cloud services to protect your assets and ensure these systems are correctly configured to prevent vulnerabilities.
- Deploying Monitoring Software and Services: Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools play a critical role in monitoring and securing sensitive data and alerting stakeholders to policy violations. Integrating DLP tools into a SASE solution simplifies the architecture by eliminating the need for separate DLP gateways and applies across various services including data loss prevention and threat prevention.
- Updating and Patching Software: Cyber attackers often exploit software vulnerabilities. Regularly updating and patching software mitigates these risks, maintaining a routine for updates to stay ahead of potential threats.
- Training Employees: Given that human error poses a significant cybersecurity risk, educating employees about the importance of IP, secure handling, and recognizing cyber threats is vital. Regular training reinforces security best practices.
SASE to the Rescue
SASE unifies networking and network security services within a single platform, simplifying the management of security solutions by additionally securing the edge and outer perimeters. This innovative integration addresses the multifaceted challenges of modern cybersecurity by supporting the adoption of cloud and mobility.
Protecting intellectual property in today’s digital landscape demands a comprehensive approach, and the foundational steps provided by SASE, including robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) measures, pave the way for establishing secure virtual borders. These strategies are crucial for preventing theft and misuse, and should be integrated into strategic planning and technical missions. As we evolve strategies to protect our most valuable assets, the roles of SASE and DLP become ever more vital in any modern approach to intellectual property protection, marrying the need for advanced security with the efficiencies of cloud-based technologies.
The Universal Imperative for Comprehensive Security
Whether you’re safeguarding a poem, developing the next cure for a disease, managing customer data, or protecting sensitive medical records, the need for comprehensive security is universal. In the digital age where intellectual property spans the gamut from creative works to critical personal details, ensuring the safety of digital assets is paramount. Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) stands at the forefront of this mission, providing the robust, adaptable, and comprehensive security framework necessary to protect the diverse spectrum of intellectual property in our increasingly digital world.
This article was originally published in Forbes, please follow me on LinkedIn.
