Three Ways to Reduce Risks During Holiday Travel

Dec 01, 2018

Three Ways to Reduce Risks During Holiday Travel

Tom Levine - Data Security Guard

Not everyone hustling through the airports in December is paying a visit to relatives and loved ones. Many are corporate travelers attending events and meetings, hitting end-of-year sales goals and wrapping up business in 2018, often on public Wi-Fi. While staying connected to employers during trips is essential, staying safe while keeping company data confidential is even more important. The following tips will help cover the bases so you can arrive at your destination without a hitch.

1. Keep company data secure
A survey of 1,000 business travelers by cybersecurity company ObserveIT found that business travelers aren’t always the most security savvy during trips.

Key survey findings indicate:

75% connect to free or public Wi-Fi with company devices
63% access work emails and files on public Wi-Fi
54% use personal or unsanctioned devices to access company information
17% always use a VPN (virtual private network) while accessing company data

These behaviors, which can easily be attributed to convenience and efficiency, put business security at risk often while violating company policies. “While technology has enabled people to be productive regardless of location, it’s also creating new ways for hackers to infiltrate otherwise secure systems,” said Mike McKee, ObserveIT CEO. The company added, “The moment that a workplace device is taken out of a more controlled environment, the risk of that device being stolen, damaged, or broken into increases.”

It’s important for both companies and travelers to have protocols in place during times of travel to avoid confusion on SOP. That way both sides can rest easy knowing company information is safe, private and secure.

2. Implement a smart home security system
Despite the fact that many homes have cameras, motion detector sensors and more, a quick scroll through the app Nextdoor confirms that bandits and thieves are still on the prowl in late 2018. If you travel frequently, now is the time to upgrade your home security system. PC Magazine rounds out a comprehensive comparison here, and we’ve highlighted some additional choices you may not have considered.

Fake TV: This brilliant burglar deterrent casts a flickering faux glow that imitates a television using only the amount of electricity of a night light. Click here to purchase.
Alexa Guard: Thursday Amazon released Alexa Guard, a security program that turns Amazon Echos into smart security devices. The program can automatically turn on your lights when you’re away, detect noise like breaking glass and is compatible with security systems like Ring and ADT. For a full rundown of what she can do, click here.

3. Adopt TripSecurity from ITS
TripSecurity from ITS integrates duty of care with open booking to ensure safety and stewardship for business travelers around the globe. It is the guard dog technology solution your company needs to achieve optimal security standards. The smart scanning technology integrates traveler emails and forwarded itineraries so travel managers can view movements all in one place. By staying informed of employees’ trips and global travel risks, travel managers can uphold high security standards and duty of care from their home bases.

How to use TripSecurity:

Search travelers by name or city
View state department advisories
Forward emails within the system
Integrate third party emergency providers
Email travelers from security system
View traveler map 24/7
With an easy-to-use traveler

management system offered at a low price, TripSecurity is a prime precaution to take in the world of growing cybersecurity threats at the airport and beyond. For more information visit ITS.