After Microsoft, it?s now Tech Mahindra?s turn to foray into the intellectual property rights (IPR) solutions space. The firm has come up with Inte?-Leak Guard, a solution that protects an IPR irrespective of its physical location. Largely, IP security has been a matter of concern with large organisations which usually keep a track of their IP assets electronically or use software to monitor assets such as patents, invention disclosures, copyrights and trademarks. These can provide a single view of an organisation?s IP portfolio and ensure that the appropriate nondisclosure agreements and licences are in place, to protect against abuses. However, among the high potential threats to IP protection are key employees leaving the organisation, taking IP-related documents or knowledge with them, and security breaches that result in theft or damage of IP information.
Interestingly, attrition rate in the IT/ITeS sector had increased by 17-20% and in retail by 10%. A study conducted by lbas, said about 69.6% of business professionals had stolen some form of corporate IP from their employer when leaving a job. Also, information leakage with in the enterprise was a growing concern with CEOs and CIOs.
Prem Chand, vice-president and business head, security consulting, Tech Mahindra, said, ?Our Inte?-Leak Guard is a fool proof solution to credible and persistent protection against theft, fraud, damage or leakage.?
Once the software gets connected to the client?s back-end server, it takes into account the organisation?s HR database and hardware infrastructure, and assigns rights to IP to every individual in the organisation, depending on the user?s position. The solution then prevents visibility of IP on a hardware located outside the organisation. For example, an IP stored on a pen drive will not be readable on a computer outside the organisation.
The solution also restricts view of IP on a personal mail ID externally. However, special IPR could be given for a time bound period, where individuals will have to come back to the organisation to access IP, once the web battery period is over.
Says Sanjeev Mathur, senior business analyst, Tech Mahindra, ?Insurance agents, who quickly switch companies, can bring huge losses to a firm by carrying customer database, internal information and other interest rates of the company.? Also, the solution can prevent leakage of confidential details during M&A, he further adds.
The system is under roll out for 7,000 employees of Mahindra & Mahindra across the globe. Developed at Tech Mahindra over the last two years, the solution is targeted towards its telecom clients in the US, UK and Europe.