Collaboration is a key element of any modern business – it allows employees to get their work done quickly and effectively and can improve productivity at all levels of a company. More of the collaboration that we do is online, so it is crucial that we protect information shared so that it cannot fall into the wrong hands. We can do this in a range of ways, like utilizing encryption, being careful with what we share, and using the best quality security software – read on to find out more.
What is Safe Collaboration?
With remote working becoming the norm over the last few years, safe collaboration has never been more important. When we talk about safe collaboration, we are referring to how secure our communications are between employees in the workplace.
Video calls, instant messaging, and emails between employees within the company are the main way that collaboration takes place, and therefore companies must make sure that the information that is shared is safe, and that no third parties can intercept private data.
If a third party does happen to intercept information that is not meant for them, businesses may find themselves in a dangerous position, which could mean cyber-attacks or hacking. This is one of the main reasons that companies must take safe collaboration seriously. There are a few factors that all companies that operate online must consider, which we will look at in more detail below.
Use Encryption
Encryption is one of the best ways to ensure that you can collaborate safely. The process of encryption is a way of scrambling data so that only the intended party can read the contents. This can be used in emails and internal chats to ensure that if the contents of the message are intercepted, the code cannot be interpreted. Many platforms offer encryption as standard practice, but it is also best to check before implementing them into your business.
Use 1:1 Chats
Communicating using 1:1 chat means that information will not be shared with others within the company that do not need to know the information. This is one of the best ways of ensuring safe collaboration within your business. Monitoring who can see messages means that it is easier to keep sensitive information private, and means you run less of a risk of broadcasting information that could be shared between employees and therefore, with other people outside of the company.
Restrict Personal Information Sharing
Of course, your business information must be safe, but it is also a requirement that your employees know to keep their information out of the collaboration space too. Ensuring that you restrict personal information sharing means that you can help employees protect themselves against becoming victims of cyber-attacks, and even fraud. Employees can be easy targets within the workplace, so as a business, you should make sure they know how to keep their personal information safe.
Security
This is one of the most effective ways of ensuring safe collaboration. Security software should be in place throughout your company’s software, especially within collaboration spaces. You should look for platforms that offer identity management – this allows you to control admin privileges, and who has access to certain information. You should also look for intrusion prevention, as this looks for threats throughout your collaboration system in real-time, to give you the best chance of preventing attackers.
