Video conferencing has become a cornerstone of modern business communication. As remote and hybrid work arrangements have become the norm, meeting over the internet is now an everyday part of how teams operate.
While virtually every business relies on conferencing tools, there are important security considerations that go beyond simply choosing a popular platform. Today, we’ll walk through four strategies you can use to improve the security of your web conferences.
Why Is It So Important to Have a Secure Conferencing Solution?
Prioritizing security is a consideration that needs to be made across every part of your IT. In regards to conferencing, a secure strategy is crucial, as these apps are among the most targeted by cybercriminals right now. CISA recommends that organizations implement security measures at both the organizational and user levels to properly mitigate risk.
Diligently choosing the right technology for your business and implementing practices with your business’ cybersecurity in mind will go a long way toward keeping your organization secure as you lean on your conferencing solutions.
Some video conferencing applications are proven to be more secure than others. With so many people using these applications, it’s important to implement these four security strategies:
Create Secure Policies
Does your business have a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy? If so, you will want to fashion your video conferencing solution in the same manner. It’s extremely important for your remote employees to understand that while the solution may have some security features baked in, it is on them to use good judgment and not put strain on your cybersecurity infrastructure by ignoring best practices.
Here are some line items that should be in your policy:
- Users need permission from all attendees in order to record a meeting.
- Personal devices should not be used to record meetings.
- Confidential or sensitive information should not come into view during the meeting unless it is expressly relevant or requested by meeting attendees.
- All cameras and microphones should be disconnected when not in use.
- If sensitive information is to be shared, it should be done so securely and not in group meetings.
Authentication and Control
Many of the most used conferencing apps feature a single sign-on (SSO) system. SSO makes it easier for administrators to control user access, but it doesn’t necessarily work to secure the solution on its own.
If your solution offers two-factor authentication, that is a strong way to ensure the person signing into your meeting is who they’re supposed to be. Another strategy is to set up domain-based security, which provides network administrators the most comprehensive tool to manage access to video conferencing solutions.
Be Sure to Use Encryption
Any conferencing solution your company uses should come equipped with 128-bit AES encryption. You will also want to deploy this on the hardware where you run the meetings to ensure that all data sharing during the meeting is protected.
Update Your System
A video conferencing solution is like any other software system: it needs to be updated and patched regularly. Staying current ensures your systems are protected from vulnerabilities present in older version builds.
Secure Your Meetings Before the Next Threat Strikes
Video conferencing is now a permanent fixture of business operations, and its security deserves the same attention as any other part of your IT infrastructure. From enforcing access controls and enabling multi-factor authentication to deploying encryption and maintaining software updates, these four strategies give your business a meaningful layer of defense against today’s cyber threats.
The security team at WheelHouse IT can help you assess your current conferencing environment and close any gaps before they become problems. Contact us today or request a free network risk assessment to see exactly where your business stands.
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