Security Concerns Re: Outsourcing? Here is a Five Step Guide to Choosing the Right Partner

10 Feb Security Concerns Re: Outsourcing? Here is a Five Step Guide to Choosing the Right Partner

Many data breaches are caused by basic security lapses, like using the wrong size envelope that inadvertently exposes sensitive customer information. For any company working with third-party service providers, basic mistakes like these can lead to costly regulatory penalties and litigation. Knowing what to look for when selecting a secure outsourced print provider can prevent expensive privacy violations and ensure that your most precious data is protected.

Here are five basic things to consider when choosing to send your sensitive data to a third-party:

1. Make sure the company you choose performs risk assessments at least annually or whenever there is a significant operational or technological change to their critical business operations.

2. While risk management programs head off potential problems, contingency planning addresses security vulnerabilities when something goes wrong. Hence, the third-party service provider you choose should have a contingency program that includes business continuity and disaster recovery planning, as well as a redundant IT infrastructure. You will also want to verify that they test their contingency plans annually and incorporate identified security gaps into their risk mitigation plans.

3. All the planning in the world won’t prevent a data breach if your provider’s information systems are unprotected. Review the providers’ technical safeguards as part of your due diligence. Things to look for include encryption, multi-factor authentication, installation of firewalls, malware detection and protection, strong authentication controls and 24/7 network monitoring.

4. Additionally, the provider should require all of their employees to undergo security awareness training that addresses procedures for information exchange and data handling, password management and common security pitfalls like social engineering.

5. Security certification is another great way to validate a provider’s security program, because most security certifications require companies to implement risk management, contingency planning, technical safeguards and other security controls as part of the assessment process. You do want to make sure that the company you outsource your data to is certified against a security framework that addresses the unique requirements of your industry.

Finding a third-party provider that meets your criteria when it comes to security can seem overwhelming. However, the security of your data should be priority-one to you and any provider you choose. When you partner with DATAMATX you will have these five considerations covered—and more. At DATAMATX we want our clients to have complete trust that their data is appropriately and effectively safeguarded within our facility at all times. And we work every day to make sure it is.