What is the HIGHEST risk of allowing access to social media through company laptops?

The highest risk of allowing access to social media through company laptops is linked to the potential loss of intellectual property confidentiality. Social media platforms often encourage users to share personal, and sometimes sensitive, information. Employees may unintentionally share proprietary company information, confidential project details, trade secrets, or even sensitive customer information while interacting on these platforms. This can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions for the company, especially if such information falls into the hands of competitors or malicious actors.

While the other options present valid concerns—such as data leaks, productivity loss, and increased network costs—none carry the same level of immediate and severe consequence as the compromise of intellectual property. The protection of intellectual property is essential for maintaining competitive advantage and upholding an organization’s reputation, making it a crucial area of vulnerability when granting access to social media through company devices.