Email has become the preferred method to transfer information quickly, efficiently and economically. It provides an instantaneous and convenient alternative to traffic jams for meetings in person or postal delays interruptions to fax machines, and busy phone lines. However when it comes to the exchange of confidential documents, the convenience of email is not worth the risks it poses.
Once your sensitive data has left your server, there is no way to control where it goes or whom it is seen by. Even if you have email encryption, which adds an extra layer of security, it may not be able to protect you from the type of “man-in-the-middle” attacks that could occur if someone was to take over your email while traveling.
The most efficient solution is to employ an outside company that is specialized in secure document exchange, making sure that your customers’ confidential documents will never fall into wrong hands. Utilizing a secure method for document exchange lets you track who has access to and edits your customer’s data.
If you must email confidential information, best practices and a dependable NDA will help you to manage the risks. Limit the number of identifying items you send to the minimum necessary to complete your task. Also, avoid including them multiple times. To further protect yourself, make use of a password-protected document instead of sending the file as an attachment. Alternatively, include a confidentiality disclaimer automatically in your emails. Whatever method you choose to employ make sure you clearly describe your expectations to the recipients of confidential information in your NDAs.