According to an article written in the New York Times in February 2017, approximately 43% of Americans stated that they had spent some time working from home in 2016. Due to this, and the fact that it is convenient, many businesses are increasingly using some form of text messaging as a mode of communication. Technology presents a dynamic opportunity for companies to capitalize on productivity, however, unless you have a well thought out communications plan— your company's data is probably being exchanged outside the safety of the offices computer systems. Due to this, finding a way to protect your company's communication data is an important matter that must be taken into consideration.
One of the easiest ways to protect your communication data, messages in particular, as discussed briefly in our last article is to utilize a secure messaging platform. Most medically related businesses already have implemented secure messaging as part of their communication protocols for sending and receiving messages because of the inherent sensitivity of their information. More importantly are the fines associated with breaches of confidentiality. HIPAA breaches can cost companies from hundreds to millions of dollars per incident.
1)With secure messaging platforms, all business messages are sent and stored securely in one place.
The best messaging systems come with easy to install and easy to use phone applications. When an employee wants to message someone regarding business, they would simply choose that contact’s name within the app and send the message. The data is no longer stored on the individual’s phone for anyone to gain access to; instead, it is stored within the secure platform.
2)Secure messaging platforms have end-to-to end encryption.
Only the intended recipient(s) can read the messages by logging into the secure platform to access them. The messages themselves can only be sent and received by users of the secure messaging platform; therefore, your data will stay within your company.
3)The sender can see, in real time, if the message has been received and read by the recipient.
This will help eliminate the worry of the unreliability of standard text messaging. It can also assist with keeping tasks on schedule by determining when a follow up is needed. For example, if you notice that an urgent message has not been read by a recipient, you can contact them via a different platform to keep progress moving forward as necessary.
4) All messages are track-able.
You can follow the path of your messages. Let's say that Bob sends the message to Jen, and Jen sends the message to Floyd. You will be able to track that message’s history within the app. This will allow for data accountability.
Social responsibility in the technology age dictates that protecting your company's communication data is now an obligation, not just something to be considered by those companies who are legally held liable to do so— instead, all businesses should consider protecting the privacy of their communication information. The cost of this information in the wrong hands is something that should be a concern for all companies. Just remember that one of the easiest ways to protect your communication data is to establish a secure messaging platform for those communications, and then use it for all of your messages once implemented.