Digital Rights Management (DRM) is
the collection of technologies for electronically enforcing
business rules on digital information. Using DRM, commercial
and non-commercial content owners can publish their digital
content securely, as they can set and enforce policies
that govern how third-parties can use their content. DRM
also enables stakeholders in enterprise value chains to
distribute their digital content safely, ensuring privacy.
For example, DRM allows protected email and document management
within and between corporations, as well as for handling
data such as medical patient records and accessing government
services.
Why do I Need DRM?
DRM technology has far broader implications
than buying or selling music or video online. DRM applies
to any business with sensitive or confidential information
that needs to protect high-value digital assets, control
the distribution and usage of those assets, or automate
important processes operating on the computing resources
of multiple parties.
Consumers now take for granted that they can access personal
bank accounts from ATMs scattered around the globe, or
that their doctors can electronically collaborate by sharing
medical files and lab results. Businesses, too, have become
increasingly dependent on digital technology to build and
maintain key relationships with suppliers, partners, and
distributors.
DRM becomes essential any time digital information is
deemed important or sensitive enough to be protected by
laws, rules, or policies.
This includes cases when digital information:
Must be made easily available to certain
people and kept away from others.
Will be used differently by different
kinds of users.
Needs to be tracked or audited as it moves
through a process or organization.
In today's extended enterprise, proposals, manufacturing
plans, technical specifications, and other proprietary
information routinely travel outside company firewalls.
An enterprise's digital information loop often extends
to competitors participating in industry consortiums or
e-marketplaces. All of these scenarios require a flexible
and robust DRM solution.
