:: Security issues

Security issues will dominate IT and its use for the foreseeable future and South African businesses that take risk management seriously should view IT security as being amongst their foremost priorities. Corporate governance codes, such as the King II Principles, now require that IT security issues be the direct responsibility of the directors of a company.

From a legal risk perspective companies which are dependent on the integrity of their information systems should consider the effects of a security breach on their contractual obligations to others, including obligations to safeguard confidential information. Business continuity issues and failure to adequately protect against viruses and other malicious code also pose liability risks.

The Electronic Law Consultancy works within the bounds of SANS 17799 - Information technology - Code of practice for information security management, a standard adopted by the SABS and which is internationally accepted as being the best available and most comprehensive guide to achieving sound information security practices.

This Standard is used to identify security issues from a techno-legal perspective and we are able to work with an organisation's IT security partners to establish a continuing management plan for the effective containment of legal risks.