Protect Company Data After Employees Leave: Everything You Need To Know

Data breaches are a growing concern, especially with the rise of AI; unfortunately, your employees could contribute directly or indirectly. 

Whether sensitive information or access credentials fall into the wrong hands, the risks are greater than ever, especially with remote and hybrid work environments.

12% of employees admit to taking sensitive data when they leave, and human error is involved in 74% of all breaches. The financial impact is significant, with the average annual cost of insider risk per organization reaching $16.2 million in 2023.

But don't worry—we have strategies for protecting your data when an employee leaves.

TL;DR

• The risk of data breaches and security incidents immediately emerges when employees leave your organization, more so in remote and hybrid setups.

• The first step to being safe is always handling MDM-enrolled devices for employees, whether they work remotely or in the office.

• It’s also essential to have clear data protection policies and conduct regular audits to track sensitive files accessed or shared by departing employees.

• Automating device retrieval processes and securely wiping all company-owned devices also stop data misuse to a great extent.

• Provide your departing employees with a formal exit agreement, which enforces legal accountability.

• Lastly, keep an offboarding checklist ready for a thorough process.