McKay deploys 3ami Monitoring and Audit System to safeguard its intellectual property against theft

(08/09/2010)

McKay, New Zealand electrotechnology firm, has deployed 3ami Monitoring and Audit System (3ami MAS) to safeguard its intellectual property against theft. McKay uses 3ami MAS to prevent employees from downloading confidential company files onto personal USB mass storage devices and removing those files from the premises without authorisation.

"McKay's intellectual property is broad in its nature, and covers items like strategic plans, customer databases, business development information and design documents,” explained Lindsay Faithfull, McKay’s CEO. “This intellectual property has a very high value for a growing company like McKay, and it needs to be protected by all means possible. 3ami MAS provides fantastic visibility into the use of McKay’s IT system by all users, including what files are transferred and where. The ability to lock out the use of unauthorized memory sticks, in particular, is a very powerful feature."

McKay started considering employee computer monitoring and auditing software when the company “became suspicious that one or two staff members may have been looking to acquire our intellectual property,” said Graeme Bratty, McKay’s manager of finance.

“We looked at a number of options, but MAS was the only one that was very comprehensive for a reasonable price,” said Bratty. “The USB security lockdown feature, in particular, is very powerful from a security perspective.”

With the new 3ami MAS USB security module add-on, certain users can be restricted so that no USB mass storage devices will work for them on any computer in the network. Others can be authorised to use only official company USB storage devices on certain computers; still others can be authorized to use any USB storage device on any computer.

The software can be used to block all USB mass storage devices, including cameras, flash drives, mobile phones and iPods. It can also be used in conjunction with encrypted biometric fingerprint-scanning authentication to create “official” and highly secure company USB memory sticks that can then be monitored and audited so that leaks, losses, and inappropriate activity can be traced to the original culprit.

Installation of 3ami MAS was “very quick,” said Bratty, “with maybe half a day getting shared folder permissions correct. Remote deployment made it simple.” McKay runs monthly audits of computer activity across the entire network as part of the company’s regular review reporting.

An earlier version of 3ami MAS has already been proven to work at McKay. In fact, “a couple of people are former staff members as a result of the detailed information that MAS has provided us with,” said Bratty.

Bratty said the comprehensiveness, transparency and simplicity of 3ami MAS reassure him that McKay’s intellectual property is safe from potential theft or abuse. And if such abuse does occur, the 3ami MAS audit trail will enable McKay to pinpoint the culprit within minutes.

With the upgrade and USB feature, McKay hopes to form an even more comprehensive picture of the company’s digital security landscape.

“It is difficult to quantify what the payback period will be, but from a peace of mind perspective, it’s almost immediate,” said Bratty. “We now know our system is more secure from the threats USB ports can pose to a computer system.”

3ami MAS is a crime deterrent and law enforcement tool all wrapped in one: it empowers employers to uphold the laws of their digital networks, creating safe and secure digital workplaces.

Related topics:  Data management and data security 

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