6 Tips for Securely Using Video Conference Tools

As data breaches have become increasingly prevalent and costly, businesses working remotely must develop strong cybersecurity policies and protocols around all tools - including video conferencing. 

In today's evolving and unpredictable business landscape, video conferencing best practices can ensure that critical communications and data are secure while mitigating risks. 

In addition to external threats, such as software vulnerabilities that could result in remote code execution or the control of webcams without the participant's knowledge, there are video conferencing best practices that can help keep employees and employers safe with this critical communication tool.

Businesses around the world trust secure video teleconference solutions from Oreed.

In this blog post, we'll outline six steps for securely using video conferences. Follow these steps and you'll be able to rest easy knowing your conversation is protected.

Why You Should Use a Secure Video Conferencing Platform

More and more businesses are embracing the remote work trend, but this comes with its own challenges. One of the biggest concerns is maintaining secure communications between employees. 

Email and chat platforms are convenient, but they are also vulnerable to hacking and data breaches. This is why it's important to use a secure video conferencing platform for all online meetings. 

Platforms like Oreed, Zoom and Skype offer end-to-end encryption, which means that your conversations can't be intercepted or eavesdropped on. 

In addition, these platforms provide password protection and other security features to help keep your meetings private. So if you're looking for a way to keep your remote workers connected, be sure to choose a secure video conferencing platform.

Tip: A virtual private network (VPN) or encrypted cellular data is far safer than public Wi-Fi when you're connecting to your network or joining a video conference from public locations. 

3 Main Security Risks to Video conferences

Videoconferencing applications pose risks around improper access and data leakage, just like all internet-connected applications. However, they also pose three distinct vulnerabilities:

• Hijacking: Many online videoconferences have public meeting IDs and PINs (for example, on social media profiles or email signatures), or they are easily guessable. Anyone accessing these credentials could disrupt or steal sensitive information without protection.
• Screen sharing: In addition to the above, most videoconferencing applications allow you to share your screen. Using their desktop as the session's focus, an unauthorized participant could become the active presenter.
• Recordings: In many cases, video meetings are recorded for viewing or transcription later on. The location and method of storing and protecting these recordings are crucial, as improper access or lack of encryption can allow sensitive information to fall into the wrong hands.

The attack surface on a client device is also increased by videoconferencing software beyond these in-app risks. Some video conferencing solutions, such as those available through Microsoft Store and Mac App Store, may require installing browser plugins or other software. These extra features further exacerbate a compromised security system.

6 Tips for Secure Video Conferencing Best Practices

Using online collaboration applications is easy with interactive technology and advanced software. Despite the convenience of remote video conferencing, there is an inherent risk associated with it. 

Whether you use video conferencing to conduct executive planning meetings, leadership summits, or more routine enterprise-level meetings, the following security recommendations will help you keep your information safe and allow you to create a more pleasant user experience.

The platform must support end-to-end encryption

Video conferencing sessions are susceptible to data transmission vulnerabilities because data must travel through public locations. A simple solution is an end-to-end encryption from the source to the destination. For a conferencing session to be secure, the software must support encryption.

End-to-end encryption is a security measure that encrypts data as it travels from one device to another. This means that the data is only accessible to the sender and the recipient, and no one else can read or intercept it. This is in contrast to traditional methods of encryption, which only encrypt data while it is in transit, but not when it is stored on a server. 

Cryptographic keys are only accessible to authorized individuals, ensuring the security of videos, data, and other assets.

Your data will not be readable if an attacker gains access to your system. It's as simple as that. There is, of course, no such thing as universal end-to-end encryption. Some protocols are more secure than others.

The Proteus protocol is a double-ratchet E2EE solution, so choose it if you have the option. Rather than relying on a central server for encryption keys, each call, message, and file on each device is encrypted independently.

In this way, all your information is protected to the smallest unit possible. Data encryption and extraction become more complex as more information and messages are sent and more keys are generated.

While end-to-end encryption can provide a high degree of security, it also has some drawbacks. For example, if a user loses their device or forgets their password, they will not be able to access their data. In addition, end-to-end encryption can make it more difficult for law enforcement to access data when investigating criminal activity.

Ensure that you can access to open-source code

You will not be able to determine with 100% certainty whether your video conferencing solution is secure or private if you cannot analyze its source code.

Access to open-source code can help to secure your online meetings in several ways. 

• First, it allows you to audit the code for any potential security vulnerabilities. This is essential for identifying and fixing any problems before they can be exploited by attackers. 
• Second, it gives you access to the latest security patches and updates. This ensures that your meetings are protected against the latest threats. 
• Finally, it allows you to customize your security settings to match your specific needs. This ensures that your meetings are as secure as possible.

You can verify, modify, and improve the code as you wish to meet your organization's specific requirements by choosing an open-source platform. This is why even large enterprises are accelerating the adoption of open source software.

For example, suppose a vendor advertises their solution as having end-to-end encryption to ensure data integrity and prevent unauthorized access. The only way to know that encrypted keys are stored on user devices is to examine their underlying code.

Examining a platform's source code allows you to determine how it handles data, integrations, encryption keys, and other potential security threats. It's up to you to decide whether you want to adjust the code or move on to a more secure option.

Security policies for attendees and customers must be delineated

Delineating security policies can also help users achieve secure video teleconference. Consider, for instance,

• Conferencing calls should reduce the sharing of personal information.
• Make sure cameras and microphones are immobilized when not in use.
• Personal devices should not be used in virtual hangouts
• Do not share sensitive information on the screen when participating in group meetings.

These tips will assist users in creating and securing boundaries during video conference calls. It also supports users to take responsibility for their safety by delivering accountability.

Consider the Privacy policies of the platform

As video conferencing users have grown, privacy policies have been under scrutiny. 

According to WIRED, a number of online conferencing tools have had to update their policies to reflect the use of users' information and meeting content for advertising or other marketing purposes. 

The attention-tracking feature of a video conferencing tool raised another privacy concern. Users feel their privacy has been compromised when they don't have the meeting window in the foreground for 30 seconds, causing the virtual meeting host to be alerted.

Take the integrity of the software provider into consideration

In any business, security and privacy are of paramount importance. When it comes to choosing a video conferencing platform, it is essential to take the integrity of the software provider into consideration. 

After all, video conferencing platforms store sensitive company information, such as financial records and customer data. If this information were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be used for nefarious purposes. 

As such, it is essential to choose a video conferencing platform from a software provider that is known for its integrity and security measures. Only then can you be sure that your company's sensitive information is safe and sound.

Oreed stands the perfect choice for a secure video teleconference. Our software can provide you with a 360 view of your metrics while staying complaint with the international compliance policies. 

Choose a provider who takes a domain-based approach

Any business today that relies on video conferencing to communicate internally or with clients must take domain-based security into consideration when choosing a platform. 

Domain-based security, also known as two-way authentication or mutual authentication, verifies not only that the user is who they say they are but also that they are connecting from an authorized device and location. 

This verification process helps to ensure that sensitive data stays safe and secure, and it also helps to prevent malicious actors from accessing the conferencing system. 

Domain-based security is an essential component of keeping confidential information safe, and any business that wants to protect its data should make sure that its chosen video conferencing platform includes this type of security measure.

You can drastically reduce the possibility of getting hacked and making headlines for the wrong reasons if you choose Oreed. 

Oreed is a highly secure video conferencing and collaboration solution based on an open-source platform that offers end-to-end encryption, zero-trust protocols, and secure infrastructure.

Prioritize Secure Video Conferencing Best Practices

• A number of Unified communications (UC) services prioritize ease of use, user experience, and ease of use at the expense of security. Organizations need to choose vendors who focus on security first and are able to back up that claim with millions of secure installations.
• Another important factor is customer support. Often, free video conferencing services do not offer customer support. However, enterprise-grade UC services should have seasoned support staff that can handle customer inquiries. Take into account the time it takes for a vendor to respond to vulnerabilities and how quickly it can address security gaps.
• Furthermore, organizations should check whether their selected UC service aligns with their privacy objectives. Organizations need to consider how video conferencing data, including chats, will be stored, maintained, and used.
• The vendor is definitely responsible for providing secure products, but the organization's IT department and users also need to take steps to ensure that video meetings are secure. It requires a multilayered approach to ensure video conference security.
• While companies need video collaboration tools for business continuity, they shouldn't ignore a vendor's security portfolio when selecting and deploying them.
• Adding more security can be achieved by controlling encryption keys to prevent third parties from gaining access to data. Managing encryption keys on a customer's own is the only way to prevent eavesdropping. 

Using Oreed's video conferencing platform makes connecting with collaborators worldwide quicker, easier, and, most importantly, secure. Video conferences powered by Oreed feature best-in-class security features, including encryption and single sign-on.

Conclusion

Video conference tools are a great way to stay connected with team members and clients, but it's important to be aware of the security risks associated with using these tools. By following a few simple tips, you can help keep your information safe while using video conferencing software.

To meet the security needs of enterprise and scaling organizations, Oreed's video conferencing platform is built to adapt to its users' needs. 

Due to the increasing number of security threats, versatile platforms like Oreed is a popular choice for people seeking to avoid costly data breaches.

Make video conferencing best practices more secure. Oreed has a free plan that comes with security and compliance features included.

Take it for a test drive!