Staff augmentation has been a key trend in the IT industry as businesses seek flexible and cost-effective ways to supplement their workforce. This approach allows companies to scale their resources up or down as needed without a long-term commitment. The growing demand for tech talent has also contributed to the popularity of IT staff augmentation.
However, with this flexibility and scalability comes the risk of data security breaches. The increased use of remote work and reliance on third-party contractors can expose companies to vulnerabilities that malicious actors can exploit. To avoid such risks, companies must take proactive measures to ensure data security in staff augmentation.
In this article, we will explore some of the significant data security challenges of staff augmentation and provide tips on ensuring your data's safety.
What are the Major Data Security Challenges with Staff Augmentation?
One of the main concerns with staff augmentation services is maintaining control and security over sensitive data.
While businesses may have robust security measures for their internal employees, they may have different control over augmented staff. This can lead to various data security challenges, including:
Access control and privileged access management
With staff augmentation, external employees can access your company's systems and sensitive data. This can create potential vulnerabilities if not managed correctly. Without proper access control measures, augmented staff may have unauthorized access to critical information, increasing the risk of data theft or manipulation.
Compliance with regulatory requirements
The augmented staff may have access to valuable data that falls under specific compliance regulations; the data security requirements set by regulatory bodies apply to all employees with access to critical data.
For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) have strict regulations for handling personal and healthcare data. Failure to comply with these regulations can have significant legal and financial consequences.
Data leakage and intellectual property protection
Data leakage can occur when augmented staff mishandles sensitive information or when a cyber security breach occurs. This can lead to the theft of valuable intellectual property, such as trade secrets, patents, or confidential business strategies. Such incidents can result in significant financial losses and damage a company's reputation.
Insider threats
Augmented staff may pose a significant insider threat to an organization. They can access sensitive data and may be tempted to misuse or leak it for personal gain. This can be intentional or unintentional, but both scenarios pose a significant risk to an organization's data security.
For instance, a disgruntled, augmented employee may intentionally steal or damage data as revenge. The data breach may also occur unintentionally through negligence or lack of proper security protocols by the augmented staff.
8 Tips How to Ensure Safety While Hiring Augmented Staff
To identify and mitigate the data security challenges, companies should take proactive measures to ensure the safety of their data in staff augmentation.
Below are 8 tips to help businesses safeguard sensitive information while hiring augmented staff.
[Tip 1] Create transparent agreements
Create clear and comprehensive agreements between your organization and the augmented staff. These agreements should outline data access and handling expectations, responsibilities, and limitations.
Clearly define the consequences of violating these agreements to ensure accountability and discourage malicious intent. The contract should also include compliance with industry standards and regulations to ensure data security requirements are met.
[Tip 2] Enforce the use of multi-factor authentication
Robust data security measures begin with secure access control. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all systems and applications that augmented staff may access. This adds an extra layer of security, ensuring only authorized personnel can access sensitive data.
The use of MFA also makes it harder for malicious actors to hack into systems and impersonate augmented staff. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information are better protected with MFA.
[Tip 3] Provide comprehensive training to staff members
Train all staff, including augmented employees, on data security best practices and company policies. This will ensure everyone knows the potential risks and how to handle sensitive information appropriately.
Training should cover properly handling sensitive data, password management, phishing attacks, and incident response. Thorough training can reduce the likelihood of accidental data breaches caused by human error.
[Tip 4] Use safe communication channels
Prioritize secure communication channels for all interactions with augmented staff. Encourage using company-approved messaging and video conferencing tools instead of personal ones with improper security protocols.
Real-time encryptions, limited access permissions, and regular security updates are some features to look for in secure communication tools. Cybersecurity tools like virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure email servers can also add an extra layer of protection. Encrypt all data transmissions and communications to prevent unauthorized access.
[Tip 5] Perform security audits
Regularly perform comprehensive security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities in your systems. These audits can help detect any weaknesses malicious actors may exploit to access sensitive data.
Penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and security monitoring are some methods to identify potential threats. Regular audits enable organizations to proactively address any security flaws before they are exploited. The continuous monitoring of systems is paramount to maintaining data security.
[Tip 6] Implement secure coding practices
If your organization develops software or applications, ensure secure coding practices are followed. This reduces the risk of vulnerabilities and potential exploitation by malicious actors.
A secure code review process, programming languages, and continuous testing can ensure the integrity and security of your company's developed software. Implementing security guidelines such as input validation, secure error handling, and regular code updates can also mitigate risks.
[Tip 7] Make sure your new employees are verified
Staff augmentation allows companies to hire experts from various fields to work on specialized projects. To ensure the credibility and security of these service providers, perform thorough background checks before onboarding them.
Stringent vetting processes can help identify any past criminal activities or questionable affiliations. This will prevent the risk of hiring employees with malicious intent, reducing insider threats. The in-house security team and the human resource department should work together to establish a strict screening process for augmented staff.
[Tip 8] Plan incident response
Despite taking all precautionary measures, data breaches can still occur. Organizations must have a well-defined incident response plan to minimize a breach's impact. This plan should outline the steps to be taken if there is a security incident and assign specific roles and responsibilities to each staff member.
Confirming the incident, assessing the damages, and containing the breach should all be part of the response plan. Regularly test and update the incident response plan to ensure it is practical and up-to-date with the latest security threats. Additionally, consider having a cyber insurance policy to cover any potential damages or losses from a breach.
Choose a Safe and Trusted Partner for Augmented Staffing
In the ever-evolving world of technology, data security is a top priority. With its access to sensitive data, staff augmentation can pose significant risks if mishandled.
At iRonin.IT, we have been providing reliable staff augmentation services for over a decade. We perform in-depth check-ups of our candidates to ensure their expertise and credibility, ensuring they are the right fit for your organization.
Our team is well-trained in data security best practices, and we strictly adhere to industry standards and regulations. We also have a well-defined incident response plan to handle any security incidents promptly and efficiently.
