When developing a program for safeguarding proprietary information (SPI), an organization should form a company task force to develop the program, and the task force should include representatives from relevant departments across the company, such as research and development (R&D), corporate security, and records management.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. N/A
• D. None of the above

Answer: (A)

Developing a program to safeguard SPI benefits from cross-functional collaboration. Bringing together representatives from R&D, corporate security, and records management helps ensure all aspects of proprietary information are considered—from how data is created and used, to how it’s stored securely, to how it’s retained or disposed of. Each department brings essential expertise: R&D understands what needs protection and how it flows through innovation processes; corporate security provides the controls and threat perspectives for both physical and digital environments; records management ensures proper classification, retention schedules, and lawful disposal. Involving these groups (and other relevant departments as needed) promotes comprehensive coverage, ownership, and ongoing alignment with business goals, legal requirements, and regulatory obligations.

Relying on a single department or treating SPI protection as a purely IT or security issue can leave gaps in policy, procedures, or day-to-day practices. That’s why the cross-functional approach is the most effective way to develop a robust, practical program that can be implemented consistently across the organization.