Protecting your business in the remote-working-world

Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock since 2010, you know what the term “Data Security” means. First rearing its ugly head in the early age of mobile phones, illegally accessing data has become a key focus for modern hackers and digital bandits.

And with the world now working remotely, employers need to be aware of the risk to data handling burdening the work from home culture. But without wanting to sound like a scaremonger what does data security really mean for us? Well as there are so many layers to a business, it’s hard to think where to start.

In our opinion, there are 5 key factors that help protect your employees as well as your business data when operating a work from home

1. Use the right kind of hardware and for your business. Too often companies experience “shadow IT” where an employee needs access to a document or programme and they can’t access via their work devices, so they find another way (like putting it on a disk and posting it). Make sure you protect your business by extending technology controls to every business platform and device that your employees use for their roles.
2. Communicate proactively. While most organisations provide data security tips, they commonly communicate them passively, such as reminders on password security, and rarely update or reinforce them. Companies should consider communicating these tips more proactively and more often – via email, company newsletter or initiating facilities that regulate password setting and access to different tools.
3. Consider payment controls. Even though most Procurement leaders think payment controls are valuable, they have not faced the world of working from home before. Remote workers require solutions for ad-hoc and varied spend, making the existing procurement practices a barrier to work. These travel programs might consider introducing flexible payment tools, like the AirPlus Virtual Card. A solution that can be used by anyone within the organisation, complete with a unique 16 digit card number, limit control and merchant locks – it’s the perfect solution for flexible, under control purchasing.
4. Check your supplier’s data policies and procedures. It’s just as important for your suppliers to be as data security conscious as you are. For example, here at AirPlus, we have a very open policy about what information is available, and have stringent controls around how that information is accessed and who can gain access to it.
5. Talk about it. Data Security is not something to be feared, or shunned. It’s not a policy to be created in a handbook and locked away in a drawer. Ensuring your business and, most importantly, your employees practice good data security measures is essential.

In today’s business world, the amount of data available makes it very difficult to distinguish practices of data sharing that create risk, and those, which promote data security. Using the key measures above will help both your business and your employees work happily and safely during this time.

For more tips on how to prepare your business for remote working, go to our procurement hub.