Security and Confidentiality

To improve security and confidentiality in the workplace, you should: • Not allow computer screens to be seen by unauthorised people • Ensure people can't see confidential documents that aren't meant for them • Log off your computer if it is unattended • Use computer passwords that are not easy to guess • Double check outgoing emails before you send them • Never gossip or share confidential information • Err on the side of caution when disclosing information • Keep sensitive documents in folders and lockable drawers • Comply with your organisation’s security procedures • Report any lapses in security • Close windows before leaving empty offices/rooms • Log off computers that have been left on by colleagues • Lock away valuables/confidential papers • Ask colleagues to be more careful if sensitive information is being discussed with inappropriate people.
Take a look at the following table for information about different communication factors and what needs to be thought about for each one.
|Factor |Think about... |
|Desired outcome of the |What does the person receiving the communication need to know or do as a result of the message? If |
|communication |it is important then the message should be more formal and less prone to distractions. |
|Target audience |Who is the target audience? What level of detail will they understand? Is English their first |
| |language? What is their attention span? Is it a single person, a group or a large number of people?|
|Complexity of the message |How complex is the message and how best is this conveyed to people (will tables / diagrams / other |
| |visuals help?)