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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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In a previously published COVID-19 <a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/publications/review-teleworking-cybersecurity-policies-and-practices">alert</a>, we reported on the privacy and data security risks your business faces when transitioning to remote working and telecommuting operations. But even with implementing all appropriate precautions to protect your systems and the data that live on them, there exists another layer of risk relating to out-of-office work practices: your service providers. Just like you, many of your critical service providers have moved to remote working arrangements, meaning that the risks of data insecurity that your business faces from working remotely are multiplied by each of the service providers that handle sensitive, confidential and personal information on your behalf. Applying good data security protections to data that your own personnel manage while working remotely is a necessary but not sufficient strategy. Your business must also address how the security of your information is impacted by your service providers as their personnel disperse.

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Most businesses do not handle their information systems and data alone. Most use third-party services to not only help run and manage their information systems (cloud hosting, IT security, application management, telecommunication services, to name a few) but also to handle one or more routine business functions (like payroll and benefit management, inventory control, management, research and development databases, cash management). The loss of access to these systems can bring entire functions to a halt and any breach of the security in a service provider’s systems can be at least as devastating to its customers as a breach on the customer’s own systems.

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Fortunately, there are proactive measures you can take to mitigate this risk. The key is to get on top of the risk and act now, just as you are doing regarding your own personnel. Here are some suggested steps you can take now:

We all know that failing to plan is the same as planning to fail. Taking these basic steps now puts you in the best position to respond to the all-but-inevitable consequences of interruptions in critical service delivery upon which your business depends. The good news is that there are basic steps you can take to minimize the impact of these disruptions.

Thomas F. Zych 216.566.5605 <a href="mailto:Tom.Zych@ThompsonHine.com">Tom.Zych@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Steven G. Stransky 216.566.5646 <a href="mailto:Steve.Stransky@ThompsonHine.com">Steve.Stransky@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Darcy M. Brosky 216.566.5774 <a href="mailto:Darcy.Brosky@ThompsonHine.com">Darcy.Brosky@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Deborah S. Brenneman 513.352.6638 <a href="mailto:Debbie.Brenneman@ThompsonHine.com">Debbie.Brenneman@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Kim Wilcoxon 513.352.6524 <a href="mailto:Kim.Wilcoxon@ThompsonHine.com">Kim.Wilcoxon@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Nancy M. Barnes 216.566.5578 <a href="mailto:Nancy.Barnes@ThompsonHine.com">Nancy.Barnes@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Julia Ann Love 216.566.5686 <a href="mailto:Julia.Love@ThompsonHine.com">Julia.Love@ThompsonHine.com</a>

Additional Resources

We have assembled a firmwide multidisciplinary task force to address clients’ business and legal concerns and needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please see our <a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/services/covid-19-task-force">COVID-19 Task Force</a> page for additional information and resources.

This advisory bulletin may be reproduced, in whole or in part, with the prior permission of Thompson Hine LLP and acknowledgment of its source and copyright. This publication is intended to inform clients about legal matters of current interest. It is not intended as legal advice. Readers should not act upon the information contained in it without professional counsel.

This document may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions.

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