I’m good at keeping secrets. For over a year and a half, I was able to keep a project that I’d been working on under wraps – not even my parents knew. The project is the largest I’ve worked on in my life thus far, so I was (and am) adamant about keeping my mouth shut to mitigate any risk of our work being leaked, as well as to abide by my NDA.
However, in early April, the project was exposed.
Then, a couple of weeks later, Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion about Roe v. Wade was leaked as well, and it got me thinking, “How can I help inform others on the best practices for approaching an information leak?”
According to All Things Talent, when confidential information is exposed to unauthorized parties, it is referred to as an information leak. Businesses can lose huge amounts of revenue directly as a result of leaks of this sort.
According to SearchInform, the types of information that are most harmful if leaked include:
- Financial and project documentation of the enterprise: accounting reports, business projects, contracts, development plans and other documents
- Personal information: customer bases and personal data of company employees
- Technological, technical, design documentation, and know-how
- Documents for internal use: presentations, training programs for personnel, service instructions, and such
- Technical data that can be used to access the enterprise network: passwords, logins, information about protection methods, and network topology
- Information that can worsen the reputation of the company or management: customer complaints, negative correspondence with employees, and meeting recordings
Furthermore, leaks can damage the reputation of your company where future customers may be hesitant to give you information and be apprehensive about working with you. This is something we’ve seen with the Roe v. Wade leak. Not only has the information infuriated a vast majority of Americans, but many feel as though this has changed their view and the reputation of the U.S. Supreme Court.
While these two leaks are completely different, it is a reminder that we live in an age where it’s difficult to keep some material confidential, no matter how great you or your business protect sensitive information.
The first step to approaching confidential information leaks: Don’t panic.
When a leak of any kind occurs, it can be easy to want revenge on whoever leaked the information, but as business leaders, it is essential to remain calm and not make any irrational or emotional decisions regarding the situation. With all the energy and opinions that arise when information is leaked, it can be easy to get swept up in the chaos of it all and scramble to “fix” the situation. However, once information is spread on the internet, it is out of your hands.
When my business partner and I first discovered the news surrounding our project, we thought we may be able to contain it. But we soon realized our efforts would be futile due to the volume of information on Instagram along with various news articles in several languages.
In accepting our fate and deciding to control our own emotions rather than a leak we could not possibly plug, we avoided making any rash decisions or acting out of fear and panic. A calm, rational approach serves well in any situation.
Step two: Let the energy die down.
We waited a month before confirming the leak. The initial buzzing energy surrounding the news flustered us and had us distracted all day, and even all of that first week. But we knew it wasn’t a good idea to make a business decision or announcement regarding the project until we both expelled the high energy from our bodies, met with our team, and could look at the situation with clear eyes.
Step three: Consider how you might leverage the leak to your advantage.
After our initial frustration, we found quite a few upsides to the leak. For one, we hadn’t made any mistakes or done anything that would’ve nullified our NDA and put the entire project in danger.
Second, it was the perfect opportunity to get the early reactions of the public. We decided to take the leak as an opportunity to gain valuable consumer insight.
Additionally, do not be afraid to reach out for support of any kind. Dealing with a leak can be stressful, so having a partner or partners to help you address the situation can go a long way. It is also helpful to have someone to bounce ideas off and to keep you in your lane in case emotions run high.
Protecting confidential information and trade secrets can be accomplished by delineating the consequences of a breach and creating a dialogue with employees and stakeholders about these risks. However, it isn’t always possible to control the rogue behaviors of certain individuals.
Next time you’re faced with a leak of confidential data or information, take a deep breath, and then call on a friend. Whether it’s a personal secret that a “friend” spread, a Supreme Court decision leak or a product launch leak, remain calm, be patient, find a bright side and use it to your advantage.
Often, we cannot control leaks, so it is important to think about what we can control. Sometimes that is solely our emotions, but that is more than enough when it comes to managing confidential leaks. Take it slowly, and remember, everything happens for a reason.