Identify and Classify Assets

Inventory your IP and data assets: Source code, software, designs, business logic, client data, etc.

Classify by sensitivity: Confidential, internal, public, regulated (e.g., PII, PHI, financial data).

Implement Strong Access Controls

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Least Privilege: Limit access strictly to what each employee needs.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add layers of protection for accessing sensitive data and systems.

Audit trails and logging: Monitor access and actions taken on sensitive IP and data.

Protect IP Through Legal and Technical Means

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs): Mandatory for employees, contractors, and vendors.

IP ownership clauses: Clearly define ownership in employment and contractor agreements.

Use version control and watermarking to track usage and authorship of digital assets.

Apply for patents and copyrights where applicable.

Ensure Data Security

Encryption: * In transit (e.g., HTTPS, TLS) * At rest (e.g., database encryption, encrypted storage)

Data loss prevention (DLP) tools: Prevent unauthorized sharing or transmission of sensitive data.

Secure backup and disaster recovery: Ensure critical IP/data can be restored.