As remote work continues to thrive even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are dependent on video conferencing for communication. In fact, the web conferencing market will likely reach $13.8 billion by 2023.
However, many people are suspicious about how companies are using their data during web conference calls. With so many reports about organizations like Zoom abusing security, it’s not hard to understand why.
The result is that building a secure video conferencing tool is a must to retain customers. If not, users will leave your platform in droves, and you’ll lose tons of business.
Here’s why conferencing security is so important, and how you can build those security features into your platform.
The Importance of Secure Video Conferencing Software
Protecting your customer’s data isn’t something to joke around with. Here are the main reasons why you can’t neglect security as part of your video conferencing software.
Keeps Your Platform Away from Cybercriminals
Cyberattacks will cost the world $10.5 trillion per year by 2025—and web conference calls will be big targets. In fact, due to fear of espionage, top organizations such as NASA and SpaceX are advising their employees to use email and mobile devices instead of video chat.
Cyberattacks can have devastating consequences on your business. Aside from financial loss, your customer data could land in the wrong hands. Building a secure video conferencing platform will be critical to stopping hackers.
Protects Customer Privacy
Many customer privacy scandals have surfaced recently and shaken users across the world.
For example, there was the infamous 2018 Cambridge Analytica Scandal from Facebook. The social media giant sold confidential information from their users without permission to influence political election choices in different countries.
As Zoom skyrocketed in popularity during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, its drastic rise also came with its share of controversy. Not only did users complain that Zoom meetings were easy to infiltrate, but news broke out that the company was using their customers’ information for targeting ads.
No one wants to hear that companies are using their confidential data during online meetings for malicious purposes. Users value privacy and a secure video conferencing experience allows them to use your tool with complete peace of mind.
Improves Your Brand Reputation
If your web conferencing platform frequently experiences security issues, your brand reputation is going to take a drastic hit. For example, when Zoom’s privacy scandals broke out, many people started pitching alternative video conferencing solutions for use such as Google Meets or Bluejeans.
By implementing security measures, you naturally build the trust of customers in your company. You position yourself as an organization that keeps users’ needs in mind.
7 Best Practices for Making Web Conferencing More Secure
Thankfully, there are many things you can do to deliver a secure video conferencing experience for users. Here are the best strategies you can apply to optimize your web conferences for security.
1. Keep System Up to Date
If your system is outdated, accessing it will be easier for hackers. They can do this by exploiting your system’s weaknesses and entering your network to do whatever they want, such as stealing your customer data or sabotaging your platform.
Make sure to frequently update your software to combat any known cyberattacks that could harm your ecosystem. That includes investing in the latest security safeguards to protect yourself from any new threats.
2. Use 128-bit Encryption
Data goes through many public and private networks to reach users, making data transmission vulnerable to cyberattacks. That’s where 128-bit AES end encryption comes into play.
128-bit encryption allows web conference companies to protect any shared data during their customers’ meetings. It works by encrypting and decrypting all video meetings for robust protection to avoid attacks from hackers.
3. Adopt a Domain-Based Security Approach
When random people join calls with no invitation, it can lead to an annoying web conferencing experience for users. Your platform must come with an effective way for meeting hosts to block unwanted participants from your user’s video calls.
With domain-based security, you can provide users with advanced permission settings to control who gets to enter their meetings or webinar. Participants will need explicit permission from the host before they are allowed to enter the upcoming web conference.
As a result, users will be able to communicate without worrying about any intruder jumping in the call. You can say goodbye to those annoying “Zoom bombing” moments or any other incidents that ruin video conferences.
4. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
Along with domain-based security, two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection than SSO (single sign-on) to web conferences to ensure only invited participants can access the meeting.
For example, it might require that users receive a code via text before joining the conference. Even if hackers know the user’s sign-in password information, they’ll still have a hard time joining the video-calling meeting room.
5. Comply With Regulations
Creating a secure video conferencing tool requires being compliant with all internet regulations surrounding customer privacy. Here are the main rules surrounding user data and what each consists of:
- GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation from the European Union that lists EU citizens’ privacy rights. If you have web conference users across different EU states, then the rule will concern you.
- HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a critical ruling for companies in the telemedicine industry. It ensures that patients’ medical records and information stay protected and sets limits over their transmission.
- SOC-2: Service organization control (SOC 2) makes sure that service providers protect their users’ data from unauthorized access. It’s a ruling created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Not respecting these regulations can not only put users at risk but could also subject your company to expensive fines.
Thankfully, with Dolby.io, our API ensures high levels of security by being compliant with all these regulations, so you can focus on delivering the best web conference experience for users. All it takes is a couple of lines of code, and you’re set.
6. Run Regular Security Audits
The sooner you can spot security issues in your web conference tool, the better. Make sure to continually run security audits for your platform and be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
During your security audit, identify weak spots in the system and find ways you can improve. Also, take time to educate your team on cybersecurity issues and what they can do to keep your platform safe.
7. Lay Out Security Policies for Your Customers
Another good tip is to help users make their web conference calls safer by outlining security policies. For example, these can include:
- Avoid the use of personal devices in virtual hangouts.
- Limit the sharing of private data during conference calls.
- Disable microphones or cameras when not in use.
- Avoid screen sharing sensitive information in group calls.
These tips can help users create secure boundaries during video conference calls. They also help provide users with accountability and personal responsibility for their own safety.
Consumers Trust a More Secure Video Conferencing Experience
Security is a top priority for the modern user, and neglecting it during web conferences is a significant risk for your company.
Without the right security measures in place, there is no customer trust. When customers don’t trust your product, you have no business to run and zero revenue. It’s a downward spiral that never ends.
That’s why at Dolby.io, we not only provide you with tools to build exceptional web conferencing experiences but also what you need to optimize for security. You won’t have to worry about data breaches or customer data getting into the wrong hands again. Sign up for a free trial today to learn more about our video conferencing services and pricing.
