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COVID-19 Trade Secret Flash Survey

Trade Secrets in the Time of COVID-19

With so many employees now working remotely through the COVID-19 pandemic — using new and sometimes untested technologies — we are taking this opportunity to collect real-time perspectives on what companies are doing to protect their trade secrets in the current climate.

To that end, we have created a brief anonymous survey that should take no more than three minutes to complete. 

We plan to share the results so you can get a sense of what other businesses are doing to mitigate risks and manage confidential information and trade secrets in this time of crisis. 
1.Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, did your company use a remote work policy to address the protection of company information?
2.As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, has your company strengthened any existing work-from-home or remote work policies that address the protection of company information?
3.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has your company instituted a new remote work policy to address the protection of company information?
4.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has your company relaxed any remote work policy that addresses the protection of company information for purposes of convenience, ease of use, or as a result of employee complaints about the foregoing?
5.In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has your company provided training to employees regarding the protection of company information while working remotely?
6.Does your company provide employees with electronic devices and/or require that devices remote workers utilize meet certain security standards for purposes of working remotely? (Select all that apply)
7.Does your company use software or other methods to monitor employees working remotely for compliance with the protection of company information?
8.Does your company permit employees to use cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, Google Cloud, etc., for business purposes?
9.Are there any cloud storage services that your company prohibits remote employees from using for business purposes?
10.Does your company permit employees to use videoconferencing services, such as Zoom, Skype, WebEx, etc., for business purposes?
11.Is there any videoconferencing software that your company prohibits remote employees from using for business purposes?
12.Does your company require employees to sign post-employment restrictive covenants to protect confidential information or trade secrets?
13.Do you intend to enforce post-employment restrictive covenants against employees who are laid off, furloughed, or otherwise terminated without cause as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic if necessary to protect trade secrets, confidential information, or customer goodwill?
14.What types of resources would assist you in managing the protection of company information during the COVID-19 pandemic? (Check all that apply)
15.What other issues are important to your protection of company information that are not covered by this survey? (Please specify)
16.What is your area of business/industry?
17.In what state is your headquarters/principal place of business?
18.In what region(s) of the US do you have operations and/or employees? (Select all that apply)
19.How many employees (full- and part-time) do you currently employ?
20.If you would like an advance copy of the survey results, please provide your email address:
Current Progress,
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