Which combination of departments should be represented on a task force coordinating a program to safeguard proprietary information?

• A. Marketing, Sales, and Public Relations
• B. Research and Development, Production, Corporate Security, Human Resources, Records Management, Data Processing, and Legal
• C. Customer Service and Logistics
• D. Finance and Compliance

Answer: (B)

Protecting proprietary information requires input from across how information is created, used, stored, and governed. The best choice brings together people who handle sensitive data at every stage: those who create and develop ideas (R&D), those who manufacture or handle products (Production), the security function that controls access and responds to incidents (Corporate Security), the people policies and training that govern who can access information (Human Resources), the unit that preserves and disposes of records appropriately (Records Management), the IT and data handling controls that protect systems and data (Data Processing), and the legal perspective that interprets contracts, IP protection, and regulatory obligations (Legal). With these stakeholders, the program can address creation protections, access controls, data security, incident response, personnel screening, retention and destruction of records, and legal compliance, giving a comprehensive shield for proprietary information.

Other options fall short because they focus on areas with limited scope for information protection. Marketing, Sales, and Public Relations concentrate on external messaging and market-facing functions, not on safeguarding sensitive data. Customer Service and Logistics involve operations and service delivery but miss critical security, legal, and data governance aspects. Finance and Compliance add governance and regulatory oversight, but without the technical, operational, and personnel perspectives needed to cover the full lifecycle of proprietary information.