Cutting cyber costs
Travel and medical security services company International SOS and global risk consultancy Control Risks have launched a new cyber and information security training course for business travellers.
According to International SOS, the course provides greater awareness and understanding of cyber and information security threats, and gives guidance to business travellers on how they can reduce their exposure to the risk of data theft.
It has been launched in the context of rising reports of corporate information theft, with cybercrime predicted to cost businesses between US $2.1 trillion in 2019 and $6 trillion by 2021. One area of particular concern is information security during business travel.
“With the increasing and constantly evolving threat to company information, in particular information accessed or stored on mobile devices, organisations can provide greater protection for their data through targeted, expert training for their employees,” explained Alex McSporran, director at Control Risks and International SOS. According to McSporran, this will equip organisations with a better understanding of the nature of the risk, and the measures they can take to better secure their information: “While technical defences remain critical, appropriate training, planning, preparedness and vigilance can make a real difference in thwarting a potential data compromise.”
Control Risks and International SOS have provided travellers with tips for protecting data while on the move. First, the companies state that before travelling it’s important for travellers to research the potential threats to their company’s sensitive commercial information, specific to the location they’ll be visiting.
Additionally, the companies advise travellers to avoid advertising the exact location or purpose of their business trip online, to ensure all software on their devices is up to date before departure, to avoid connecting to non-secure networks, and to maintain physical control of their devices and sensitive information at all times when in locations assessed as high threat.