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Cybersecurity

Today’s interconnected environment requires that companies focus on cybersecurity as an essential ingredient to support the economy’s infrastructure and national security. On a daily basis, computer viruses, identity theft, and loss of sensitive data threaten to disrupt information and communication systems.  Maryland has recognized this need and its role in protecting our nation’s information networks and is striving to be the epicenter of the cyber world.  This includes commitments to efforts in local facilities at NSA, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 12 major military installations (including Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, which is home to the Navy Fleet Cyber Command and the U.S. Cyber Command) and countless federal contractors and commercial enterprises.

Applying a multidisciplinary approach to this emerging sector of our economy, Offit Kurman has formed a practice group of attorneys focused on collaboratively serving companies that deal with the issues arising from this rapidly growing sector.  These issues cover the gamut from protecting intellectual property innovations to providing adequate security for personal data in its possession, financial information, and sensitive client or customer information.

Drawing on the collective expertise of our attorneys in many practice groups, including Government Contracting, Business Litigation, Business Transactions, Corporate Finance, Insurance Recovery, Intellectual Property, International, Labor and Employment practice groups, Offit Kurman provides assistance to clients across a broad spectrum of cyber security issues including:

  • Creating security policies and corporate governance approaches
  • Ensuring compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) and IC security requirements representing applicants and employees who have been denied  security clearances or had their clearances revoked
  • Negotiating and advising on licensing and contractual obligations in handling data or outsourcing data or development to third parties
  • Navigating notice requirements once a security breach has occurred
  • Negotiating contracts to include security and data protections
  • Licensing and intellectual property protection of software advances;
  • Advising on compliance with the export controls (ITAR and EAR)
  • Navigating e-commerce rules and issues
  • Developing privacy policies
  • Assisting in audits of intellectual property assets
  • Responding to government inquiries and investigations
  • Conducting internal investigations and advising on voluntary disclosures
  • Pursuing insurance indemnification and defense costs related to security breaches and remediation
  • Legislative updates and information

 

Cyber Security News