With increasing numbers of people continuing to work from home, video calls are set to become a main communication channel for businesses across the globe. But what is the risk of a security breach and how do you choose a videoconferencing platform that will protect you against one? John Parkinson OBE, the UK based President of Secured Communications, LLC, explains.
A recent survey conducted by Forcepoint revealed 71% of global CEOs said they were losing sleep over the prospect of their company’s next security breach. This shows the problem is real, and its one that is on the minds of those responsible for protecting not only internal company data, but also that of their customers and clients. With the survey also revealing less than half (46%) regularly review their cyber security strategy – coupled with more and more companies relying on video technology for remote working – the likelihood, and therefore the risk, of a security breach is significantly higher.
Add to this the fact 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs surveyed stated that business travel will become less frequent and replaced by video conferencing, and those risks increase further.
When it comes to technology to keep us connected, there are many different platforms available for conferencing, calls, messaging and file sharing, with some having been around for a long time. However, it’s crucial companies check that the systems they use have moved with the times, and that they continue review and improve the security of the technology they rely on to communicate as hackers become increasingly sophisticated.
You might be thinking; “it’s not as though my company holds or discusses national secrets”, but that doesn’t stop people from wanting to listen in on your conversations or see your data. Information like this can be especially useful for a competitor, a criminal or some other nefarious entity. If they succeed, not only can it be extremely commercially damaging in terms of productivity or reputation for your organisation, but it can also be very costly.
But it’s not just those on the outside; some of the companies providing video and audio conferencing technology actually harvest peripheral data about your digital usage, meaning there’s no escaping from them, either.
So, you’ve decided your information and that of your organisation is private, and you want it to stay that way. But how do you go about it? Here are my top tips to consider when choosing a videoconferencing platform to facilitate remote working for your business.
Avoid Allowing The Use Of ‘Unofficial’ Social Media Platforms
A simple step here is to have policies in place to insist your employees use systems approved by their employer, rather than using popular social media messaging platforms for your business communications. These platforms are inherently risky and despite claims about encryption, are often compromised, providing a gateway to other data on your computer or mobile device.
Keep Everything To One Application
Use an enterprise system that meets true end-to-end Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption. This might sound costly and overly ‘techy’, but they can be very cost effective, especially when compared to the potential reputational and monetary cost of a data breach.
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Ideally, choose a system where all features are integrated within one application (app), so that messaging, calling, video conferencing and file sharing stays within one eco-system. As soon as users need to go ‘outside’ the system, the risk of hackers opens up.
Keep Things Simple
Remember, not all your employees will be tech experts. Staff productivity will benefit from having easy to use platforms that work in a similar way to what employees are used to using every day on their computers and mobile devices. Even better, look for a system that works on their own devices without the need to install sophisticated new software or new tech.
Consider The Costs
Think about the cost in terms of productivity, reputational damage and even potentially fines rising from data protection breaches, before dismissing the solution as too expensive. Do your homework before choosing a platform; where will your communication be routed? Where are the servers based? Are they trusted and do they directly support your business needs? Some systems offer features that are better suited for social use, but the development costs are often recovered through charging business users.
Aim for a system that is designed for your business needs and don’t pay for features you don’t need. Security standards can never be too high, and the system needs to have high fidelity in terms of video and audio quality. Go for a system that can be used via mobile devices and the web without having to be installed onto computers or local servers.
Are you satisfied with just ‘hoping’ your next meeting, message, video call or file share is secure, or would you prefer to be one hundred percent certain?
Mercury by Secured Communications is an ultra-secure, encrypted video, audio and file transfer platform designed for business use. Visit securedcommunications.com/mercury
About The Author
John D Parkinson OBE, MSt, CMgr, CCMI, CIMS, FRSA
John is President of US based Secured Communications, LLC (www.securedcommunications.com) a global leader in secure communications and has been heavily involved in the development of Mercury, an ultra-secure, trusted web and mobile platform, available for companies globally.
He is a former UK Police Chief and Head of Counter Terrorism and has directed Security and CT programmes in challenging regions right across the world.
