Why might organizations face challenges with confidentiality in ESI?

Organizations may face challenges with confidentiality in electronic stored information (ESI) primarily due to the involvement of multiple stakeholders. When numerous parties participate in a collaborative environment, such as supplier relationships, the sharing of sensitive information becomes more complex. Each stakeholder may have different levels of access and varying levels of awareness regarding confidentiality protocols, which can lead to unintentional breaches of sensitive information.

Increased supplier collaboration can result in more data being shared across the supply chain. This expanded reach increases the risk that proprietary or confidential information could be exposed, either through inadvertent human error or through insufficient security measures in place across different organizational systems. Thus, while collaboration is beneficial for fostering innovation and improving supply chain efficiency, it can inadvertently compromise confidentiality if not managed with strict controls and clear communication about confidentiality expectations.