When others steal your business ideas, it means they are good ones, but keeping your intellectual property security should always remain a priority for your business – especially when outsourcing.
Your intellectual property, trade secrets and company processes are the lifeblood of your business. You’ve worked hard to develop them, so when adding people to your organization, whether in-house or outsourced; it’s vital to ensure their security.
When considering outsourcing as an option for your business, it’s normal to hesitate when it comes to sharing company information with an external provider. Is it safe? Will my business ideas be protected?
With the right partner, and a few added safeguards, outsourcing select roles is a safe and cost-effective business strategy.
How to ensure intellectual property security during project development
Before making any decisions, take the time to research all available options. Research is a vital stage when outsourcing as there are several models to choose from – each with unique pros and cons.
Once you’ve chosen the ideal model for your business, find a partner that can meet your business needs and fits in with your company ethos and culture.
Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Ask other business owners’ opinions on the outsourcing partners on your list. Additionally, it’s essential to connect with potential partner companies.
- Understand how they can help you achieve your goals
- Ask how a partnership with them will work
- Find out what intellectual property and physical security measures they have in place
When you’ve decided on an outsourcing partner, protecting your business is of the utmost importance. Have them sign legal documents to protect your intellectual property before commencing. Don’t just jump straight in without safeguarding your project details. Common protections include non-disclosure agreements (NDA) and non-compete clauses (NCC).
These confidentiality agreements give you the peace of mind that your business plans, processes and intellectual property are protected by law. If any of your confidential data has been leaked, the outsourcing company will be held legally responsible.
Even though you’re going to work with project managers, it’s still up to you to decide what parts of the business you want to dispense. Think about what information is important to your company and be sure to know where data is stored, as well as who has or could have access to it.
Keep all sensitive information password protected and only share it with people who require access. Make sure you educate staff about the proper procedures for sharing information to prevent unintentional breaches.
Trustworthy outsourcing providers
When hiring locally, you ultimately have to put your trust in your employees. The same goes for outsourcing. However, entrusting important business details to people you haven’t met face-to-face and the inability to monitor progress in person can be daunting.
At Cloudstaff, we fully understand these concerns and take the responsibility of being trusted with our customers’ data and intellectual property very seriously. We provide enterprise-grade security to keep your business data and processes safe and offer a range of add-on options to suit all requirements.
For high-trust industries, Cloudstaff Vault offers a secure and isolated operations center, designed to meet the stringent requirements of industry-standard accreditations. 24/7 security guards and walk-through metal detectors ensure that no electronics, phones, recording devices, or portable drives can enter, and computers are fully monitored.
As privacy laws continue to tighten, keeping sensitive data safe is paramount. It’s no longer just good business, it’s the law.
Cloudstaff is committed to providing world-class services and the highest levels of intellectual property security and customer satisfaction. We have dedicated account managers who will work with you every step of the way.
As a business owner, you have to consider how to best protect your business ideas. Take some time to consider what steps you need to take to make sure that you’re trusting the right people with your information.
With a talent pool featuring thousands of qualified candidates, we have the staff you need to achieve success compliantly. Contact our team today to find out more.