Confidential Communication Risk Checker

This diagnostic helps firms, advisers, consultants and high-trust professional environments assess whether ordinary communication channels may be inappropriate for the information being shared.

It is designed for situations involving client information, access instructions, financial details, legal matters, HR information, identity material, private instructions, confidential business information or other sensitive short-lived details.

Please do not enter passwords, private links, client names, identity documents, financial figures, confidential files or sensitive information into this form. Answer only by selecting the type of information and communication context involved.

This tool is a general diagnostic aid. It is not legal, cybersecurity, compliance, financial, medical or professional advice.

Sienda Ltd. Third Floor, 207 Regent St, London W1B 3HH, UK • Company No. 08194971 • www.sienda.co.uk

1. Which professional context best describes this communication?

A

General internal business communication

B

Client service or advisory work

C

Legal, accounting, financial, HR, property, consultancy or professional services

D

High-trust communication involving confidential instructions or sensitive client matters

2. What type of information is being shared?

A

General non-sensitive business information

B

Client or customer information

C

Financial, contractual, commercial or transaction-related information

D

Legal, HR, identity, medical, access-related or confidential professional information

E

Passwords, access codes, private links, recovery details or login instructions

3. How long should the recipient need access to this information?

A

Long term, as part of a normal record

B

I am not sure

C

Only for a short period

D

Only until it has been read, copied, used or acted upon

4. Would it create a problem if this information remained searchable in an inbox, chat history, shared folder or archived thread?

A

No real problem

B

It could be inconvenient

C

It could create a confidentiality, client-care or professional problem

D

It could create serious legal, financial, security, reputational or regulatory risk

5. Could the information be forwarded, copied, screenshotted or stored by someone who does not need long-term access to it?

A

No real concern

B

Possibly

C

Yes

D

Yes, and that would be a serious problem

6. Does the information include access, identity, authority, payment, approval or instruction details?

A

No

B

Indirectly

C

Yes

D

Yes, and misuse could cause harm, loss, unauthorised access or professional difficulty

7. Is the communication part of a client matter, transaction, instruction, case, account, project or private professional relationship?

A

No

B

Indirectly

C

Yes

D

Yes, and confidentiality is expected or required

8. Would ordinary email or chat create an unnecessary permanent readable record?

A

No, a permanent record is appropriate

B

Possibly

C

Yes, the information is temporary or sensitive

D

Yes, and the information should not remain readable after use

9. How serious would the consequences be if the wrong person saw or retained this information?

A

Minor or no consequence

B

Embarrassing or inconvenient

C

Commercially or professionally damaging

D

Serious legal, financial, security, client or reputational consequence

10. Which statement best describes the communication need?

A

The information is ordinary and can remain in the normal record

B

The information is somewhat sensitive but not critical

C

The information is sensitive and should be handled carefully

D

The information is sensitive, temporary and should not remain readable in ordinary channels