Theft of Computer Time

There is always the temptation for an employee to use the firm's computer for their own purposes. This may be as innocuous as printing off a CV or preparing a personal letter but it could extend to using their employer's computing resources to run their own part-time business. Most employers would not object to some small-scale use of computing resources by employees provided that it did not interfere with their proper duties. However, unless the employee has permission to use the facilities they are in fact stealing computer time from their employer. This could lead to a loss in productivity or involve additional running costs for the business.

Employers may attempt to limit the extent of such use by using the computer system to monitor employees work or to maintain a log of their activities. Unless the problem is serious, such monitoring may lead to a break down of staff morale that could cause more damage than the original problem.

Theft of Software or Data

Commercial data is valuable, not only to the business that owns it, but also to competitors. The same is true of software. If a particular business has invested in developing software that provides an improved credit rating system to vet potential customers then it will have a commercial advantage. It will be able to control the credit facilities offered to customers more efficiently. A rival company may wish to obtain a copy of the software.

Software theft of this type is most likely to involve a disgruntled or greedy employee who can be approached to obtain copies of the program. Commercial data is also vulnerable to theft. The data may be related to manufacturing - such as the specification for a new production model - or it may be customer information or planning forecasts. Any of this would be of value to a rival company and its loss would be damaging to the company concerned.

It is difficult to protect against this sort of theft. Obvious measures, such as restricting access, automatic logging system usage and insisting on good password discipline will help maintain security.

Employees are perhaps most likely to steal software and data or perhaps to maliciously damage it when they are dismissed. For this reasons many firms will not allow a sacked employee to return to his or her office without security staff accompanying them. Once their desk is clear they will be escorted from the premises

© LEV