Security issues of using Balanced Scorecard
In the age of information and skyrocketing progress of IT technologies, loss and theft of information has become a part of business routine. Due to tough competition in the market and new realities of crisis-hit economy, many companies are dreaming of learning something about their competitors. Of course, this “something” should be something valuable, something that can be used to wipe out such competitor, something that would give a company competitive advantage in the market.
It seems like every large company uses some sort of special IT solutions to automate at least some of the following activities: business management process, evaluate business performance, workout strategic plans and maps, designed response actions etc. If a competitor learns about your strategic plans, initiatives in the sphere of advertising or marketing, such a company may use this information in their favor. In the big-time world of business this may mean loss of millions of dollars.
That’s why most software solutions have different systems of protection. Commercial espionage is very popular now, so it certainly is recommended to use special tools to keep your information safe and confidential.
Balanced Scorecard data is a most wanted one
A common database stored in most of ERP systems, such as accounting data, employees lists and hierarchy, projects appointments and other things are usually considered vital by most of CEOs. Practically this statement turns to be a wrong one, this type of data is important, but it is not really something your competitors are interested to steal. Usually most of information from there can even be found in free access in the Internet, other can be found by examination of your activity in mass media, marketing researches, surveys among primary audience and other market niche participants – all this methods are absolutely legal and in most of cases there is no need for the spies to break through the database and steel anything. Oppositely to this comes your plans, your strategy vision and other data, that determines the FUTURE of your company, such as marketing plans, short- and middle-term operational tasks, unique researches and technologies. These are the examples of the information, which turns to be the best pieces for competitors and certainly it cannot be found anyhow but illegally. A competitor is interested in what is going to happen but not what has already happened. Strategic plans and the methods of reaching strategic goals should be always protected. The thing is – if you can find a system that puts together almost all this extremely vulnerable information, it will be the Balanced Scorecard.
Those companies using balanced scorecard system to design strategy maps and evaluate business performance should feel confident that the above mentioned information will not get to third parties, especially to the competitors. Implementation of Balanced Scorecard System and setting strategic goals is rather an expensive process, and if you know that some important information is lost, you’ll have to redesign strategy maps and introduce amendments to balanced scorecard. Again, this means you will need even more time and money.
Just imagine that marketing departments of company A is about to launch a new campaign that is aimed at increasing sales and improving customer loyalty. Rival Company B has learned everything about this new campaign in detail and launches it just a few days before Company A does it. Obviously, company B will not only get competitive advantage but also force company A to suffer losses.
This simple hypothetical example vividly demonstrates how loss of commercial information and especially information on strategic goals and methods, stored in balanced scorecard database can hurt the company well being.
BSC Designer data protection
BSC Designer software solution that supports the concept, provides not only useful and easy to operate tools to set up metrics, link the existing database to your BSC projects, perform the cascading and many other features, but also takes cares of the data protection. Starting with the version of 3.2.0.84 BSC Designer Pro supports password setting, that may allow users to read only the document (BSC Designer Project – *.bsc file), or to read and edit it.
How to set up passwords?
Setting up passwords is not a sophisticated action. Launch BSC Designer Pro, open the project and go to File -> Create Password. The new dialog window will appear. Now set the desired password for reading only and reading and writing the document if you want to protect the project and press OK.
After the password had been set, the program will not allow users to read or to edit the project without entering it. Please note, the password is set for the project (*.bsc file), not for the BSC Designer program itself. This means anyone will be able to access the projects, where the passwords had not been set yet.
Please stay away from this info!
