FI-579 The Gray Zone

By now, you should understand why financial information is so crucial for businesses. From helping reduce expenses to planning business expansion, financial information helps companies grow and thrive. Because of its sensitive nature, financial information should be carefully safeguarded by all who use it. It’s not always clear, however, just how careful an employee should be when dealing with financial information. Consider Mary, a manager at a public accounting firm. While away on a business trip, Mary received an email containing sensitive company financial data. She accidentally downloaded and viewed the documents on a public Wi-Fi network. In 200 words, can you think of any reasons why Mary’s behavior might be risky? Is this a breach of security that deserves punishment?