How can you find the most secure unified communication platforms for confidential client communications?

When dealing with sensitive client information, it's crucial to ensure that your unified communication platforms are as secure as possible. Confidentiality breaches can not only harm your reputation but also lead to significant legal consequences. In this article, you'll discover how to identify the most secure communication platforms that will keep your confidential client communications safe from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

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1 Assess Needs

Before diving into the myriad of available unified communication platforms, you must first assess your specific needs. Consider the types of confidential information you handle, the communication methods you require (such as video conferencing, instant messaging, or file sharing), and the level of security necessary for your industry. This assessment will help you create a criteria list that any potential platform must meet, ensuring that your final choice aligns with your security needs and compliance requirements.

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Wayne Harper

Junior Developer
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Azures RBAC (Role Based Access Control) can tie to users or groups of users to control access to anything. It ties to your Azure Active Directory/Entra making it a fluid auth with everything else mentioned in MFA plus these situations.

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2 Encryption Keys

One of the most critical features to look for in a secure communication platform is robust encryption. Encryption is the process of converting information into a code to prevent unauthorized access. Seek platforms that offer end-to-end encryption, meaning that your data is encrypted from the moment it leaves your device until it reaches the intended recipient, and only they have the key to decrypt it. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable to anyone other than your intended audience.

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Wayne Harper

Junior Developer
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Azure has a Key Vault and in some cases rotation for certain keys. With enough programming knowledge it is possible to automate handling keys in a way where even people and your own environment will have trouble knowing them. If done right, this security is incredibly good. No one even needs to manually maintain them. You just give certain internal programmers access via RBAC Key Vault and you have a solid closed key rotation.

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3 Compliance Check

It's essential to ensure that the unified communication platform you choose complies with industry standards and regulations such as HIPAA for healthcare, GDPR for data protection in Europe, or FINRA for financial services. Compliance with these regulations is a strong indicator that the platform has implemented rigorous security measures to protect sensitive information. Moreover, it can safeguard your business from legal penalties associated with non-compliance.

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4 Provider Security

Investigate the security practices of the communication platform providers. A trustworthy provider will have a transparent approach to security, regularly update their software to patch vulnerabilities, and conduct periodic security audits. Additionally, they should have clear policies for responding to data breaches, including notifying their clients immediately in the event of an incident. A provider's commitment to security is as crucial as the features their platform offers.

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5 User Authentication

Implementing strong user authentication methods is vital for maintaining the integrity of your communications. Look for platforms that support multi-factor authentication (MFA), which requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access. This could include something they know (like a password), something they have (like a smartphone), or something they are (like a fingerprint). MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access resulting from stolen or weak credentials.

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Wayne Harper

Junior Developer
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As far as MFA, Azure Active Directory/Entra is the best I've seen. This can tie into everything so well making a closed environment incredibly secure. It can handle any app that you write that can use its library making it possible to auth everything from one system. As far as price, Microsoft has changed this a few times. The last I worked with it, it was $2 per person in an enterprise environment. I would be surprised if this doesn't change again. So far, I'd say they are a very good competitor to other clouds. Disabling MFA in this environment is strongly not recommended. It has many ways to auth. The most recommended is Microsofts auth app on phones. This will cause the least amount of issues for your helpdesk.

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6 Trial and Feedback

Finally, before committing to a unified communication platform, take advantage of any free trials or demos offered. During this trial period, pay particular attention to how well the platform performs in terms of security features and ease of use. Additionally, seek feedback from your team members who will be using the platform regularly. Their insights can be invaluable in determining whether a particular solution meets your security and communication needs effectively.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you find the most secure unified communication platforms for confidential client communications?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Needs

2 Encryption Keys

3 Compliance Check

4 Provider Security

5 User Authentication

6 Trial and Feedback

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Communications

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How can you find the most secure unified communication platforms for confidential client communications?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess Needs

2 Encryption Keys

3 Compliance Check

4 Provider Security

5 User Authentication

6 Trial and Feedback

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Communications

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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