Here are a few tips to help you ensure the protection of your financial practice’s and clients’ sensitive information

Do:

• Keep a secure workspace and “clean desk”—free of exposed personally identifiable information (PII)—when leaving your workspace unattended.
• Use a secure Wi-Fi connection.
• Log in to VPN when using public Wi-Fi.
• Only use approved devices for business purposes.
• Make sure your laptop and the data stored on it are secured.
• Safeguard equipment by storing in a secure location when not in use.
• Appropriately dispose of documents when they are no longer needed by shredding them.
• Reference videoconferencing guidelines to consider and follow the “no recording” rules referenced in the June Compliance Alert.
• Be certain family members, roommates, and visitors cannot overhear or view sensitive PII or corporate information.
• Consider voice-command technology in your workspace and reference the Guidelines for Using Alexa-Enabled Devices.
• Use the Remote Work Policy Reminders with staff as we continue to work remotely.

Do not:

• Leave your laptop, and the data stored on it, unattended in your workspace, in public places, or in a position where it can be stolen or compromised.
• Print PII, proprietary corporate information, or internal information unless it is necessary.
• Open suspicious emails. Instead use the Report Phishing button or report emails to [email protected]. Cyber threats are on the rise during the pandemic.

If you need to report a privacy incident, please email: [email protected] or contact the 24/7 hotline at (866) 578-7011.

Privacy incidents include any suspected or confirmed compromise, unauthorized disclosure or acquisition of sensitive information (PII) that may be intentional or inadvertent. For all other privacy related questions, please email: [email protected]. Or, visit the Privacy Page on the Resource Center for more information.