Is Outsourcing Safe for Your Business? What You Need to Know

You’ve likely heard about all the upsides of outsourcing your IT or other business processes, but you may still be wondering about the downsides. Like anything, there are risks you take on when you outsource, but those risks can be mitigated if you know what signs to look for, and you have a reputable and trusted outsourcing partner on your side. Here, we’ll review the security risks of outsourcing and give you tips on how you can choose a partner and keep your workers and your business protected.

Understanding (and Avoiding) the Security Risks of Outsourcing

Of course, there are security risks when dealing with a fully in-house team. However, outsourcing can bring a whole new set of risks to the table (don’t worry, they can be avoided).To prevent a security event from damaging your business, you have to first understand the signs and know those potential risks. Below are some of the security issues you could potentially encounter while outsourcing.

Security Breaches

Security can be breached in more ways than one, and it’s a scary situation for any business. A physical breach is possible when a person or persons intrude into the facility where your outsourced work is happening. This is a frightening prospect for an outsourcing company, as you do not have an on-site presence and, therefore, have no control or insight into the situation.

Physical breaches, fortunately, are rare. More often, with outsourcing, the larger risk is a cybersecurity breach. Cyberattacks are far more common and have the potential to be far more devastating, as they leave your business, your sensitive data, your employees, and your customers or clients vulnerable. In fact, in 2023, the global average cost of a data breach cost $4.45 million in damages. 

Staff Misconduct

While you want to put your trust in your outsourcing partner and rely on their ability to choose ethical talent, the fact is that misconduct among team members can happen. This can be something that is seemingly harmless, like a white lie or casually spread gossip, but it can swiftly take over a team and lead to major issues. Spreading misinformation can be damaging to your business and your brand, and it could lead to proprietary information being leaked to the competition or the media. 

Miscommunications

The spreading of misinformation may not be an intentional or malicious occurrence when you’re relying on an outsourced workforce. A simple language barrier can be enough to cause a serious security risk if the right protections are not in place. Reputable remote teams will ensure there’s a communication plan in place for daily purposes and unexpected events.

Third-Party Involvement

Depending on the outsourcing company you choose, you may not get much say over what vendors or softwares they source for their daily business operations. This means there’s a risk of them choosing a vendor or trusting a third-party service with sensitive information about your business. When you have no transparency and no say over who your remote team is working with, you might find yourself in a precarious position.

How Selecting the Right Outsourcing Partner Can Help

Fortunately, there’s an easy and effective way to prevent these security risks and protect your business. The key? Working with an outsourcing vendor that has a proven track record of safety, compliance, adaptability, and high quality standards. 

Below are some security features to look for when doing your due diligence and selecting an outsourcing service provider.

ISO Compliance

Compliance is critical to maintaining security, and you want a partner that has documented records of being compliant and staying on top of new regulations. Look for a partner with an ISO 27001 certification and always ask for their compliance processes in writing. At Emapta, we have obtained our certification and have outlined in-depth processes for IT security.  

Plan for Business Continuity

No one wants to consider the worst-case scenario, but when it comes to keeping your business secure, you must. In the event of a disaster or unexpected catastrophic event, continuity is your foremost concern. Emapta has a plan for that. And a backup plan. And a backup for the backup plan. We’ve lined up power supplies, internet access, data backup, and hardware redundancy at every single location to assure you that when the worst happens, you’ve got the best on your side.

Manage Risks

Cybersecurity isn’t the only risk mitigation you need to consider when outsourcing business operations. There are several types of risk your outsourcing partner should consider. At Emapta, we take an all-encompassing approach, looking at:

• Commercial Risks: Emapta is on top of anything and everything that can affect your bottom line, whether it’s intellectual property, confidential or proprietary information, or data protection — our processes have it covered. 
• Legal Risks: Emapta legally and ethically hires all the employees who work on your outsourced team, so we bear the legal responsibility of hiring and maintaining those employees. This reduces your liability and gives you more flexibility as your business needs change.
• Culture Risks: Our extensive cross-training ensures even employees across the world feel like they’re part of your team. We break down barriers and oversee operations to ensure a good cultural fit and seamless communications.

Data Privacy

Privacy is at the forefront of security concerns these days, and both your business and the clients you serve want to know critical private information is protected. At Emapta, we act as a bank vault for your information and that of your customers. We abide by all global privacy laws and regulations, and have our own internal processes that we follow to the letter. You’ll find data security and physical security present at every one of our locations, and across our network, to keep your information private.

On-Site Managers

When you’re separated from your team by international borders and multiple time zones, you can feel a loss of control. You can shake off that stress and have a better handle on what’s happening when you trust your outsourcing partner. At Emapta, we don’t just hire third-party security and vendors to oversee what’s happening in our facilities. Our leadership team is physically located in each of our centers, so the manager you work with is the manager walking the halls where your employees are located, giving you unparalleled visibility and transparency.

Why to Choose Emapta for Your Outsourcing Needs

As a leading outsourcing service provider in Colombia, Malaysia, Macedonia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, we are set up to keep your business and data safe and secure. Review our IT security policies and benefits, and get in touch with any questions. With Emapta, you get a cost-effective way to transform your business and keep it safe and protected in the process.