With GDPR in full effect and changes from Brexit looming, compliant enterprise messaging systems are now a necessity for companies doing business in Europe.
GDPR, which is approaching its one-year anniversary on May 25, requires companies to meet strict guidelines for how they interact with EU users, and how they collect, process and store personal and sensitive EU citizen data.
This means that enterprises doing business in the EU need to take appropriate measures to protect the data of their customers and stakeholders. With the proliferation of smart phones and more companies allowing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), businesses must adopt an enterprise messaging system that has been designed for international use to minimize their exposure to serious compliance risks.
Brexit is another issue impacting companies doing business in the European market. It is currently unclear if a UK regulatory authority will be accepted when it comes to the EU-based GDPR.
As Brexit evolves, communication issues associated with staff relocations pose another challenge for companies. Many organizations are moving employees from the UK to other parts of Europe, in order to avoid additional corporate taxes. This shift will have an impact on employee communication and collaboration. Companies need to be prepared to provide technology tools that can help foster communication among teams located across countries and time zones.
Increased mobile device usage for business communication is another factor complicating compliance and employee collaboration issues associated with Brexit and GDPR. It is the main reason more businesses are adopting enterprise-grade messaging systems.
Enterprise workforces increasingly rely on mobile messaging platforms for company-wide communication and collaboration with internal team members and external stakeholders. According to a survey by 451 Research, 70% of respondents say they use a smartphone – either personal or provided by their companies – for business purposes.
The continued increase in BYOD and smartphone adoption has led to certain vulnerabilities that expose companies to security risks in employee use of consumer-grade apps that lack the physical and technical safeguards necessary for enterprise communication. Popular consumer messaging apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger lack central management capabilities and do not contain the proper encryption and security protocols needed to lock down communication and align with compliance and regulatory laws.
Today, mobile messaging has moved beyond text messaging to encompass much more robust functionalities including allowing the sharing of comprehensive data such as pictures, voice messages, videos and location information. With all of this data flowing between mobile devices, it is more imperative than ever for companies to provide highly secure, reliable, centrally managed and controlled mobile messaging services to meet the required standards of data protection and security.
Companies should be looking at an enterprise-grade messaging and mobility solution like NetSfere that brings together the ultimate combination of collaboration, productivity, security and compliance.
A mobile and enterprise first messaging app, NetSfere offers a robust set of features that improve productivity and help enterprises comply with regulatory standards. NetSfere provides a secure mobile communications solution that encrypts conversations end-to-end, while giving corporate IT full control over the platform.
As mobile messaging becomes the preferred method of communication and issues like Brexit and GDPR shape the regulatory landscape in Europe, CIOs who haven’t already adopted a secure enterprise messaging platform should do so – now.
It’s time to get on board with mobile data security solutions. It’s time for NetSfere. To get started, contact us today.