Introduction

Information Barriers, also known as Information Barriers, refer to the mechanisms that restrict communication within or outside an organization for regulatory compliance or business reasons.

While professionals in compliance and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) areas are familiar with the concept, many remain unaware of its broader applications and benefits across industries. Let’s explore what Information Barriers are, their functionalities, and how they can enhance operations in various fields.

What Are Information Barriers?

Information Barriers establish communication limits to prevent conflicts of interest, ensure compliance with regulations, and safeguard sensitive information.

Here’s what a robust Ethical Wall policy can achieve:

• Restrict internal file sharing to minimize unauthorized data access.
• Control external communications with third parties, customers, or external employees.
• Enforce real-time communication blocks (e.g., restricting junior employees from contacting executives).
• Provide comprehensive logs of blocked or monitored communications for accountability.

These barriers are crucial for compliance, security, and mitigating risks in an increasingly interconnected digital world.

Beyond the Financial Sector: Information Barriers in Diverse Industries

While Information Barriers originated to meet financial regulations, their use has expanded to various other sectors. Just as innovations like GPS and duct tape transitioned from military to civilian use, Information Barriers are now essential in industries like healthcare, education, law, and more.

Financial Services

Compliance regulations such as FINRA, MiFID II, and EMIR necessitate the use of Information Barriers to:

• Prevent conflicts of interest, e.g., when investors engage with individuals privy to proprietary information.
• Restrict external file sharing across platforms like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
• Limit direct communication between employees and senior executives.
• Control departmental interactions with external entities.

Healthcare

Regulations like HIPAA mandate strict confidentiality for patient information. Information Barriers help ensure:

• Limited information sharing between doctors and staff.
• Controlled file sharing and communication with external parties.
• Restricted access to sensitive data like PII and PHI based on personnel roles.

Education

In virtual classrooms, communication barriers are vital to maintaining order and upholding institutional policies. Information Barriers can:

• Prevent students from different grades from communicating.
• Require teacher or coach presence in student communications.
• Restrict external communications on Unified Communication (UC) platforms.

Legal Services

Law firms often adopt strict communication controls to avoid conflicts of interest. Information Barriers assist by:

• Preventing unauthorized communication between lawyers and external parties.
• Limiting interaction among lawyers representing opposing clients.
• Restricting screen sharing and sensitive file access during meetings.

Other Industries

Governments, public agencies, pharmaceuticals, and large corporations can all benefit from Information Barriers. Establishing clear communication boundaries reduces risks of regulatory violations, data breaches, and reputational damage.

Choosing the Right Ethical Wall Provider

When selecting an Ethical Wall or Information Barrier provider for platforms like Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Slack, consider the following essential features:

1. Comprehensive Communication Control: Restrict both internal and external communications dynamically.
2. Real-Time Enforcement: Immediate action to block non-compliant communications.
3. Granularity: Tailor policies to restrict specific actions like chat, file sharing, or screen sharing.
4. Ease of Use: Intuitive interfaces for seamless policy creation and enforcement.
5. Flexibility: Availability as both cloud-based and on-premise solutions.
6. Affordability: Cost-effective pricing that supports scalability.

Nice-to-Have Features

• Logical policy setups with no workarounds.
• Robust integration with existing platforms.
• Detailed logs and reporting for compliance audits.

Why Choose AGAT’s Ethical Wall Solution?

AGAT’s Ethical Wall solution for platforms like MS Teams, Webex, and Slack stands out with its:

• Real-time participant control and granular policy settings.
• Intuitive UI for hassle-free policy creation.
• Comprehensive logs for easy incident resolution.
• Flexible deployment options (cloud or on-premise).
• Competitive pricing that delivers exceptional value.

Our solution is recognized on Microsoft Teams Appsource and Webex Apphub as a trusted partner solution.

Conclusion

Information Barriers are vital for regulatory compliance, conflict prevention, and enhancing communication governance. They not only protect organizations from potential risks but also promote healthy, secure communication practices.

Experience the benefits for yourself—contact us to explore how AGAT’s Ethical Wall can transform your organization’s communication strategy.

Learn more about SphereShield’s Ethical Wall for Microsoft Teams here.