New ways of working can potentially bring new problems…
Working from home is now a primary weapon of choice for fighting the novel coronavirus responsible for the Covid-19 condition. And for collaborative work, using a teleconferencing system such as Zoom allows members of an enterprise operating from different locations (typically their homes) to take part in meetings with audio and video.
But, as with almost all innovations, there are points to watch for. An uninvited participant in a corporate meeting could spell disaster if they learn secrets or confidential matters which have been assumed tobe private.
John Douglas and Bill Lindley of First Response have some pointers to share.
“If you are planning a face-to-face meeting with a limited number of participants,” Douglas points out, “you don’t put the notice and agenda on the canteen noticeboard, or send a memo to everyone in the office. In the same way, if you’re planning a teleconferencing meeting, don’t put the details on social media where anyone and everyone can see them.” He goes on to say, “You should quarantine any potential attendees before allowing them into the meeting. Set up a pre-meeting room, and act as a gatekeeper, checking attendees’ credentials before they enter the meeting proper. Think of it as them having to swipe their card badges to unlock the door of the conference room.”
“And along the same lines,” adds Lindley, “add a password if you’re really worried about gate-crashers and uninvited guests. Even so, keep monitoring who is in the virtual room. You don’t need eavesdroppers. And if you find anyone in the meeting who’s not on the list, kick them out.”
“It’s just common-sense, really,” Douglas concludes. “But we are living in disruptive times, and these strange circumstances and the fact that meetings are being held using a different medium often cause people to ignore what they would otherwise see as elementary security precautions.”
In other words, don’t allow the lockdown and social distancing to weaken your defences and make you let your guard down. If you are worried that these changed circumstances may have impacted your enterprise’s digital security, or if you feel that your current defences may not be adequate, please contact First Response and see how we are able to assist you.