The work-from-home model provides a number of business benefits including improved agility, better access to superior talent, decreased capital expenditures, and lower total cost of ownership (TCO). In fact, experts at ITAC have calculated as much as a $25,000 annual savings for each at-home agent as compared to a traditional call center resource. Yet despite the advantages, instances of fraud and identity theft are still causing executives to be wary of outsourcing customer service to a solution that utilizes a distributed, work-from-home network. But as nineteenth-century theologian William Shedd astutely pointed out, “fear of a storm is not a justification for keeping a ship in harbor when ships are made to sail.”
Confidence in any work from home solution starts with protecting the data and applications that connect a company with its customers. While the most secure approach is simply to restrict all access, growing customer demand for real-time transactions has eliminated that as a viable option. In fact, sensitive customer data is already readily accessible from any PC, tablet, laptop or cell phone. The key to developing an effective work from home solution, however, is to not add to this risk by further exposing sensitive data during storage, transmission or actual servicing.
Below are four security recommendations for executives who want to enjoy the benefits of the work-from-home model and still sleep soundly at night.
1. Avoid Creating Additional Storage for Data
Whenever possible, do not create additional storage for customer data. If working with an outsource partner, consider leveraging your existing, in-house data storage by using a “thin client” approach for any work from home access. Tools such as Citrix XenApp, Microsoft Terminal Server or other virtual machine applications will allow users to securely connect to corporate computing platforms through a simple graphical user interface. Inputs are redirected over the network to existing centralized servers, where application execution takes place in a secured location. The same applies to any voice, chat or e-mail applications such as voice switching devices (an ACD or PBX), on-line engagement tools, quality management software and operational data stores.
If additional hosted support is needed (such as a hosted ACD, QA monitoring tools, or a Citrix farm for hosting the secure applications), verify that the partner’s infrastructure and procedures meet all applicable government and industry standards including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. Protect Data Transmissions
It is also important to protect any transmissions to or from the work-from-home agent. Data communications should always be encrypted. Additionally, voice communications, if applicable, should leverage the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using a dedicated phone line in the home. If you prefer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), use advanced session border controllers to properly authenticate callers and agents. This will reduce the risk of fraudulent or unauthorized calls. It’s important to note that protections targeted at securely storing or transmitting sensitive information are only effective if coupled with a program and the tools to actively monitor and prevent intrusions or disruptions to the environment. Arise uses a proactive intrusion prevention and detection system to deliver the most advanced network awareness in the industry, including superior threat protection up to Layer 7.
3. Control Access and Usage at the Workspace
Ensuring proper use and access of data begins with requiring a dedicated environment at the home workspace with equipment that doesn’t introduce additional risk. Avoid wireless communications, including keyboard and mouse, and, if supporting a voice channel, require a dedicated home phone line without advanced features. Other useful security strategies for the workspace end-point include:
4. Work with Quality Talent
Finally, eliminating security risk from any work from home solution, especially potential internal fraud or misconduct, is certainly affected by the quality of the individual agent. In addition to performing background checks on 100 percent of the work from home agents, consider business approaches that deflect applicants interested in work from home opportunities strictly for the intention of committing fraud. Work from home approaches that require more effort, in time and money, to complete their application or certification processes create a natural barrier to fraudsters.
As mentioned at the outset, firms in all industries can effectively leverage work from home without taking on any additional or unnecessary risks as long as they have a comprehensive discovery plan and tight adherence to security best practices. As you evaluate how you build work from home into your customer service, sales or back office solutions, make sure to identify the upfront investments in infrastructure and tools or consider partnering with an expert that understands the risks and has developed the processes and technologies to address them.
For a complete copy of Arise’s White Paper on “Security Outside the Office”, visit the Resources tab at www.arise.com.
Kevin Kammer, Vice President and General Manager at Arise Virtual Solutions Inc., is responsible for delivering Undisputed Top Performance™ for the company's clients in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance industries. Prior to joining Arise, Kevin was Vice President of Strategic Business Development at West Corporation, Chief Operating Officer at Artios and President of Debit Services at First Data Corporation.
Steven Parker is the Director of Information Security for Arise Virtual Solutions Inc. Steven has over twenty years of professional experience in IT, information security, risk management and converged information security environments, and he is certified in the following areas: CCNP, CISSP, CISM, CISA, ITIL, and ASIS CPP. Prior to joining Arise, Steven was Vice President, Manager Information Security Services at First Citizens Bank, and previously held senior executive roles at Cisco, Mizuho Financial Group, INT Technologies, TSL Corporate Security Services, Century 21, and NYC Department of Investigation.