With benefits for both companies and employees, some aspects of remote work may be here to stay. Many organisations have started working remotely and leaders are managing cross-functional teams. In order to cross collaborate for projects, usage of collaboration tools has increased drastically.

From email attachments, network shares to cloud based document centric tools things have changed among the teams. To make remote work a success, it’s important to create a sense of closeness within your team, even when they are thousands of miles apart. Collaboration has moved data beyond fixed office locations and firewalls increasing cyber security threats and therefore organisations should understand and mitigate the risks that come with collaboration tools.  

Data security challenges while adopting collaboration tools

Communication is critical when it comes to managing a remote workforce and also driving a project to its success. From delivery drivers to equipment repairmen, today’s mobile field workers are more connected than ever thanks to technology. But communication efficiency and productivity do come with its own set of risks, particularly for remote workers who handle sensitive information as part of their jobs.

Let’s focus on device compromise. What would happen to your business data  if the bad guys were able to compromise a remote user account? In this current scenario this risk is made more real because computers and devices are now at home and do not have all the firewall and network protection found inside the corporate networks.

Similarly when it comes to collaboration platforms, a bad guy can pose as a trusted employee to share malicious documents or files to move laterally into other devices. Depending on how the platform is configured, they may also be able to move into file-sharing apps such as G-suite or SharePoint to gain access to sensitive data.

While most of the cyber-attack comes from external parties trying to enter organisations network through multiple end points, when it comes to using collaboration tools, data breach or leaks where an insider is involved is on rise.

Increasing threats from Insiders:

Privileged users can compromise sensitive data. Different individuals in the organization may have varying levels of access to the collaboration tools which has not changed since they started to work from home.

Since there is no change in what employees can access from these collaboration tools, there is a danger of data being unknowingly extracted, or manipulated from these platforms. 

Login credential breaches: 

Employees use easy passwords to login to the collaboration tools. If they’re hacked, an employee’s access can quickly give outsiders a direct line to financial information, proprietary company data and client information.

Collaborating from anywhere from any device:

Users can now carry out their work from anywhere via any device. The constant in transit and dynamic nature of collaboration results in data security risk. Most of the employees are able to collaborate on a piece of content from their office device or personal device via office, home or even coffee shops with unsecured WIFI.

Organisations don’t always restrict access or usage rights to the most sensitive company data. 

Recommendations for Secure Collaboration

With the right technology and business practices, organisations can both optimise their remote workforce and ensure private data isn’t stolen or exposed. 

  1. Use end-to-end encrypted communication

Ensure all enterprise messaging and communication to, from, and among remote workers has right technology. With end-to-end encryption, data is encrypted on the sender’s device or system. Only the device of an authorised recipient is able to decrypt the message and view its contents.

  1. Create secure team messaging groups for project coordination

To have secure internal communication within the remote workforce, use secure enterprise messaging software to facilitate smart team collaboration.

  1. Employee training:

Educate employees on the best practices to defend against cyber threats while using collaboration apps.

About Siccura

Siccura’s collaboration tools allow team to collaborate in real time on a single piece of content through real time editing or conversing with team members under same user platform. When you join Siccura, your data, including the projects you share with others outside of your organisation remain in your control. Everyone communicates within the solution, and everything you own is fully protected from harm.

Create your best work in a secure environment

Get the entire Office experience without burning a hole in your pocket. Siccura comes with an Office package that has Write, Sheets, Present and Draw so you can continue to create your best work securely. So all your business plans, marketing campaigns, ideas and strategies are now locked and in the possession of the business.

Make everyone feel part of the team with Collaboration

Create a stronger team for effective project management with Siccura’s collaboration. The rich collaboration tools enables collaborators to voice their opinions make edits, and suggestion in real time. Simply upload a document, spread sheet or PowerPoint, invite colleagues, business partners or clients to collaborate with you

A new generation of business communication- Secure web and video conferencing

Effective team work cannot survive without conference calls. Siccura Meet’s conferencing facility is flexible and adaptable enough for voice, and video calls, recording and sharing screens wherever you are. Mostly important, no meeting can end without action points. Convert your action points into tasks, and watch them progress.