Managing Intellectual Property provides a checklist of finance, legal, IT, and HR tasks to consider for protecting intellectual property:

• FINANCE TASKS
  
  • Inventory all intellectual property
  • Prioritize an action plan for correcting deficiencies and reducing risk
  • Consider insurance strategies
    
    
• LEGAL TASKS
  
  • Have basic agreements in place and ensure they're used
    
    
• IT TASKS
  
  • Have a secure IT network and computer systems
  • Have robust data retention policies and procedures
    
    
• HR TASKS
  
  • Ensure employee handbook and personnel policies provide guidelines for protecting IP
  • Establish physical procedures
  • Establish systems and additional safeguards
  • Ensure the training and education of all employees on all aspects of IP and protection thereof