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I'm a stressed secretary - get me out of here!
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Who let the cat out of the bag?
Is confidential information safe in your hands, or does it just slip through...? Roisin Woolnough challenges you to check your discretion levels. 
Can you keep a secret? Or is your definition of a secret, something you only tell to one person at a time?! In today's workplace, keeping a lid on confidential information is almost a daily requirement for secretaries and PAs. And it's increasingly complex! More fluid workforces make it harder to know who to trust, internet hackers wage continual attacks on your firm's cyber defences, companies merge and downsize, open plan offices leave documents vulnerable to prying eyes, the laws which apply seem to contradict each other - to say nothing of the internal politics that you also have to dance around! Welcome to the sensitivities and subtleties of the secretary's role! That's why this issue we've tried to give you some help to navigate this tricky area. It's part of your portfolio of professional skills to deal with confidentiality at work, but that doesn't mean you can't upgrade your radar from time to time! Hopefully when you've read this edition of DeskDemon Express you'll have resolved to keep these serious issues 'front of mind' from now on.
It sounds rather dramatic to say it, but your firm's data is under ongoing threat from a variety of sources. We have tried to pull together some stimulating thoughts, some concrete advice, and some sources of help to get you to focus attention on this crucial area.
On a practical level, you need to make sure your workstation is as secure as possible, and that when you are out and about, you're not unwittingly leaking company secrets. Check out our article on keeping your workstation safe. You also need to be aware of what constitutes confidential information, as it ranges far beyond the more obvious type of data, such as financial reports, salaries, etc. We've put together two articles which help you to address these issues, and build a defence against letting cats out of bags.
Don't forget, your firm could be attacked at any time by cyber criminals. For small and medium sized enterprises, it's often difficult to find the money to install the resources, and to find the time to keep on top of the threats. We offer some advice to help you through the maze of internet protection, and to make sure you're doing the essentials to safeguard your business.
And if you'd like to know what the law says about data protection, read our intriguing article which looks at the relevant legislation today. Intriguing, because it's not a straightforward picture at all!
Finally, don't miss our great give-away in this issue - privacy filters for your monitors from 3M, to keep your data secure on the screen. And if you're worried about how well you can keep a secret, have a go at our fun quiz. Just don't tell anyone how you fared!
I hope this edition of your monthly online magazine from DeskDemon will stir you to action, to protect your firm's vital data. You only have to imagine for one second what would happen if your information was stolen one day, to take immediate steps!
With warmest wishes
