Outsourcing is popular for it’s convenience and cost saving potential. Unfortunately, this can put your company at risk for potential security issues. At some point you may need to share account information or other sensitive information. This is often the only way outsourced worker can do their work. Here are some of the most common security issues that are created and what you can do to avoid them.
No Face To Face Contact
When you outsource you won’t have face to face contact with the person. This can make it easier to hire someone that’s not of good character. They are more likely to steal some of your company’s information. It can become all too easy for them to steal some of your software or even credit card or other secure information simply because they don’t care about your well being since they’ve never actually met you.
Other Country’s Law
There’s a good chance that when you outsource, that the individual you hire will be based in another country. Unfortunately, this means that if you find that they are doing something that’s against the law in your country, you may have a difficult time trying to prosecute them. In countries like the Philippines, you can actually end up breaking the law by accusing someone of a crime if you can’t definitively prove it. I have known some people who lived in the Philippines that were robbed. They generally chose not to do anything about it even though they were fairly confident of who did it.
What You Can Do
In order to not succumb to security issues, there are some things that you can do. First, have a lot of contact with the person you are outsourcing too. Even if you can’t meet with them face to face, video chat with them often. Also, thoroughly check their work so that you can make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to. It’s important that you also try to only hire someone that’s located in your country. This will increase the likelihood that you can prosecute them if you find that they are doing something illegal. You can also use a service that pre-screens outsourcing applicants like Chris Ducker’s Virtual Staff Finder. While Virtual Staff Finder and similar companies can’t ensure a secure experience, their vetting process to find the right skill set also helps eliminate less ethical workers.
