Protecting digital business

Operating in a more digital environment presents new risks and challenges which must be understood and mitigated. It’s critical to ensure your technology, network and data are protected and do not expose the organisation, its customers, staff and partners to risk. Below we list some areas that you might need to consider.

IT security

It is important that appropriate technical and organisational measures are adopted to protect both data and systems and it is important to recognise that an organisation’s security perimeter does not stop at its own walls. Organisations must have regard to the both their own infrastructure and people but also that of their suppliers and partners. And with the development of digital systems and partnerships that security perimeter tends to stretch wider still. That means that the risk of security failures could well be higher and the ramifications of security breaches are potentially severe. For the latest on what we see as being the biggest data risks out there today check out our UpData insights.

Protection of know-how and technology

Due to collaborations between companies and movement of talent, the risk of unauthorised people gaining access to your IP, trade secrets and business information increases. It is therefore important to monitor the use of your IP by third parties and enforce your IP rights as necessary to protect your digital business. Find out more about our intellectual property specialists.

Litigation risk

The move towards a more digital environment will no doubt have its advantages for businesses: speed, efficiency and improved performance are all benefits. But with change comes risk, and businesses will need to be careful to ensure that digital gains are not undermined by inadequate contracts. Rights and remedies need to be captured comprehensively, especially in a world where supply chains and delivery times will be moving at a faster pace. Find out more about our disputes practice.

Sustaining the tax structure

We are mindful that both the business and the tax legislation/environment will continue to evolve, and it is therefore vital that the tax structure is monitored and adapted in line with these changes. In particular, there continues to be a lot of scrutiny on the taxation of digital businesses by tax authorities globally and by the general public/governmental bodies (which has led to a number of countries (e.g. France, UK, Italy) unilaterally introducing their Digital Services Tax regimes). Ensuring that your tax structure remains sustainable and compliant is a key component of your overall reputational management in this current challenging tax environment. Find out more about our Tax specialists.

Take care of your data

All companies collect, process and use huge masses of data. If personal data (eg IP addresses or location data) is collected, processed or used, data protection regulation must be complied with and breaches can cause significant. For example, if personal data is transferred from an EU member state to a country outside of the EU, special data protection requirements have to be taken into account. Read more in our digital download series.

Data regulation and opportunity

Data could be your organisation’s greatest asset, but it can quickly turn into your greatest liability. Regulators around the world are tightening their grip on the way data is collected, stored and used. Fall short, and you’ll face significant reputational and financial damage. Our digital business team can support you in meeting regulatory requirements whilst still extracting tangible value from your data assets. Read more on how we help companies face the data challenge and set their data strategy.

Online reputation management

Your online presence is often the first impression of your company that a customer or potential partner gets. How you market yourself online and what information you give away is up to you. The situation is different where third parties spread (confidential) information or (negative) opinions about you online. This can happen on employer evaluation platforms, on social media channels such as Twitter, or even on private blogs. The protection of your online reputation requires continuous monitoring and quick reaction. You are not at the mercy of third parties, but can actively intervene. Read more on how we support clients on reputation management.