The latest book "Risk Management, Are You Prepared to Handle an Unexpected Event?", by Louis Mehrmann addresses these growing concerns with practical applications intended for business owners and managers. Organizations of all sizes are making substantial investments to guard clients and employees from the tremendous risks. Protection of confidential data, control and management is a matter of corporate responsibility and potential for personal liability. The new focus is a move from reactive compliance to proactive and cost-effective data protection and control.

    John Mehrmann, Consultant for Executive Blueprints, Inc., stated: "Controls in programs and process will need to be augmented by structured training and disciplined company policies to protect the privacy of the customers and the compliance of the employees. Accidental leaks or misuse of intellectual property can be just as harmful as intentional abuse." All companies, regardless of size, collect some personal information about customers or employees and are involved in a number of financial transactions. In addition to keeping personal information secure, several state and federal laws require companies to establish and enforce information security programs. Risk of non-compliance can mean more than the loss of customer confidence. A breach in security may result in significant fines, civil or criminal charges.

    Businesses are investing to stay ahead of regulatory compliance and tremendous legal fees. IDC predicts a compound annual growth rate of 33% over the next five years, and an estimated $3 Billion in spending on Information Protection and Control Solutions.

    Louis Mehrmann added: "Information is a vital asset for the success of any organization. It is therefore necessary to protect that asset from accidental or intentional, but unauthorized, disclosure, modification, destruction or inability to process that information. Risk Management, Are You Prepared to Handle an Unexpected Event?" compliments the other books in the series, "Security is a Management Issue, Are you Prepared to Cope with It?" and "Ownership and Classification, Protecting Vital Information Assets".

    Recently new legislation has been developed to safeguard privacy and prevent disclosure. Widespread concerns for Identity Theft have moved the discussions from the boardroom to the bedroom, bringing the risk and prevention of fraud to a new level of personal awareness. With such rising awareness and concern, additional consumer protection and regulation are sure to follow.

    Eric Nelson, Privacy and Risk Management Consultant for Strategic Technology Solutions, LLC, said: "The Federal Trade Commission has stated that all companies must take reasonable steps to maintain sensitive information, regardless of the size of the company. While many companies are starting to wake up to the needs for safeguarding the data, very few have taken precautions to address the most significant variable risk within their own company and that is the people and processes."

For more informations visit www.ExecutiveBlueprints.com.