In Massachusetts, wearable technologies, such as smartwatches, smart glasses, and location-tracking badges, are raising concerns from security experts as they become increasingly ubiquitous in business settings. While these devices may bring about gains in productivity, efficiency, and information-gathering, they also carry cybersecurity risks that may make sensitive data more susceptible to attack. There are other worries, too. UPS, for example, has substantially increased its profitability through the use of wearable tech that tracks its employees and collects data, helping to increase efficiency while reducing costs. While this use of technology has been a game changer in some contexts, businesses looking to adopt similar measures should carefully consider potential privacy issues as they track the whereabouts and behavior of their employees.

  In Massachusetts, data breaches reported to the Office of the Attorney General have been climbing steadily since 2008. One explanation is that technology developers, in their rush to get new products to market, may overlook safety or security flaws in their products. (Think of the security features recently uncovered in Mitsubishi’s new Wi-Fi outfitted hybrid, where hackers found they could disable the vehicle’s security system remotely.) Early adopters of new technologies are well-advised not to make the same types of mistakes, hastily seeking the benefits of new tech without considering the risks.

How will your business avoid these pitfalls?

1. An experienced attorney can help you reap the benefits of new technology without creating avoidable vulnerabilities within your business.

2. By working with lawyers with expertise in addressing privacy in the workplace, clients will likely avoid being blind-sided by privacy issues.

3.  Another benefit of working with privacy-savvy counsel is better understanding and buy-in  to the  company’s data security and privacy programs from the Board of Directors to the entry- level employee.

4.  Frequent bench-marking of performance; training; and improvement processes are all necessary elements to blending in new technology with appropriate attention to employee and customer privacy.