Video Conferencing Security is Important

Video conferencing has been one of the surprise winners of the COVID-19 era. As large percentages of people are asked to distance from others, one solution that has been extremely popular is to have meetings over the Internet. While seemingly the whole world is using video conferencing solutions, for the business, there are other considerations that have to be made. Today, we’ll hit on some 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 on every part of your IT. In regards to conferencing, a secure strategy is crucial as these apps are some of the most targeted by cybercriminals right now. Diligently choosing the right technology for your business, and implementing practices that have your business’ cybersecurity in mind, will go a long way toward keeping your business secure as you heavily lean on your conferencing solutions.

Some of the 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 judgement and not put strain on your cybersecurity infrastructure by ignoring the 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. The SSO makes it easier for administrators to control user access, but it doesn’t necessarily work to secure the solution. If your solution offers two-factor authentication, that is a good way to ensure the person signing into your meeting is the person supposed to be there. Another strategy is to set up domain-based security. This 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 that happens 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. This will make absolutely sure that your systems are protected from any vulnerabilities that would be found in antiquated version builds. 

Video conferencing is the star of the stay-at-home orders and its place in business has been fortified. Call the security professionals at Walsh IT Group to get more information about security surrounding your video conferencing apps.