Security standards in nearshoring

We have already answered these and other questions in a series of articles on nearshoring on our blog. Today, however, we would like to focus on one extremely important issue that should always be kept in mind when entering into a nearshoring cooperation. 

Security standards play an extremely important role these days. Leaks of data, passwords, technology, loss of trust in the eyes of customers - these are some of the risks that lurk for companies that decide to partner of this type. It's important to keep them in mind and be aware of them - then we'll be better prepared for possible attacks and reduce the risk. After all, we don't want to negate what we've worked on for many years through one hacking attack.

In our article we describe:

• What are the safety standards in nearshoring?
• What should we remember and take care of? 
• What is our advice to companies entering into this type of cooperation?

Read more about it in the article below.

Is nearshoring safe?

What is nearshoring and why is its safety questioned? Does it actually pose any dangers, or is it apparent? How to guard against potential dangers? 

As Henry Ford said in 1923 - "If there is something we cannot do more efficiently, more cheaply and better than our competitors, there is no point in our doing it; we should hire someone to do the job who can do it better." This idea is now coming to fruition in the process that is nearshoring, and is more relevant than ever. One might ask - why should we consume resources to create and improve new structures within an organization when we can outsource this work to a ready-to-go, qualified team? 

Nearshoring is a type of outsourcing that involves outsourcing processes to a partner in another country, but one that is not far away, sometimes neighboring, being in the same time zone and cultural proximity. It has many advantages and is worth opting for. We wrote more about it in the article: Why IT nearshoring between Germany and Poland pays off. 

But what about when you want to opt for nearshoring, but are unsure of its safety? Is nearshoring, in and of itself, safe?

Yes, nearshoring is safe. However, in order for it to be so, several conditions must be met and several things must be taken care of. To begin with, it is necessary to choose the right partner for cooperation. One that you trust, know and treat as an authority and specialist in his field. Secondly, you need to properly prepare for potential risks and be aware of them. How to deal with them and how to ensure safety in nearshoring?

Cyber security nearshoring - keeping your data safe

The moment we made the decision to spin off a certain part of the organization, to outsource processes, we deprive ourselves of full oversight of the activities performed. Working remotely also increases the risks associated with data leaks. Meetings will usually take place via video conferencing, and working on shared files shared on cloud drives or sent via email can sooner or later lead to mistakes. 

When working "on the links," we should pay much more attention to security rules. The basic ways to secure communications are to encrypt emails and use VPNs. There is also a potential increase in legal risk if there are additional formal obligations that we need to attend to. 

Bring You Own Device policy - the danger of BYOD

The great variety and complexity of the contracts being carried out, or simply personal preference, encourage us to work on our own IT equipment and give up the computer entrusted by the employer. A lot of companies agree to this. However, by bringing your own equipment to work, you should be aware of the responsibility you are taking on. After all, the computer on which we will process business data is our private one. If we don't take care to properly separate one from the other, an incident may occur for which we will be directly responsible. After all, there may be a cryptocurrency node on the private equipment, which is a good target for attack, or an ordinary Trojan, ransomware and so on.

So it's worth remembering the basics of responsibility when working on your own computer. What are our tips for dealing with the dangers of BYOD?

• You need to create a separate account - a business profile. 
• You should have an effective antivirus/firewall.
• The system should be updated regularly, automatically. 
• Use strong passwords, 2FA. 
• The disk should be encrypted. 

Following the aforementioned recommendations will certainly help a fair amount to guard against the dangers of the Bring You Own Device policy and increase the security of nearshoring cooperation.

Secure nearshoring cooperation - what to look for?

The rules for finding business partners abroad are similar to those for selecting local contractors. It is advisable to be guided by references, supported by a portfolio of completed projects and satisfied customers. Certifications, especially those with global reach - such as certificates of compliance with ISO standards in the field of interest - will be a great asset. It will certainly be helpful to familiarize yourself with the public registers of the country in question - the equivalents of the Polish KRS or REGON register, maintained by the Central Statistical Office. It is also worth determining the security requirements already at the stage of starting cooperation with the supplier, in order to avoid unnecessary surprises and disappointments later on. 

Summary

Nearshoring collaborations have been very popular and profitable lately. They have many advantages, but they may involve some risks. Security standards play a huge role in it. Outsourcing processes deprives us of full control over the delegated activities, and creates opportunities for hacking attacks or data leakage. However, keeping certain issues in mind and being aware of them, we are able to avoid them, and as a result - cooperation between nearshoring partners will run completely smoothly.