Five steps to …Boosting cybersecurity for your travellers

When President Trump returned to the USA from China in May, security staff took no chances. White House staff and reporters were only allowed to fly back to Washington on presidential aircraft Air Force One if they had travelled with a burner phone instead of their regular mobile device and then thrown away the phone before boarding for the return leg.

The precautions for this particular trip may have been extreme, but they are a reminder that business travellers are increasingly vulnerable to cybercrime by entering environments where they cannot be sure of digital security. Organised crime, industrial saboteurs and state-sponsored agencies might all be interested to see what is on their phone or laptop.

Here are five important steps travel managers can take to improve cybersecurity levels that will minimise risks for travellers such as ransomware infection and data theft.

Step 1 – Find the right experts to work with

You’re a travel manager, not an IT or security expert, so you need to collaborate with people who have the necessary professional knowledge. The undoubted starting place is your company’s IT security department. If there isn’t one, take advice about which external advisers are used to help your business with cybersecurity.

Step 2 – Make sure your company is doing the IT work

Preventative steps to discuss with your IT security department or other advisers include:

• Install multifactor authentcation for all log-ins

• Create complex PINs for digital devices

• Update and patch all operating systems on travellers’ regular laptops, and install or update anti-virus software

• Configure travellers’ e-mail accounts not to download pictures or attachments automatically.

Step 3 – Equip your travellers

Check, for example, that travellers have access to a high-quality virtual private network service. Issue privacy screen portectors for laptops.

Step 4 – Educate travellers about “data hygiene”

Tips to pass on to travellers include:

• Carry only essential files on your laptop.

• Back up data before travelling.

• Use passkeys and passwords wherever available.

• Avoid work activity on personal devices.

• Avoid, or exercise caution on, pubilc wi-fi networks. For example, do not communicate sensitive information.

• Switch off Bluetooth and wi-fi when not using them.

• Don’t assume a hotel room is secure – not even the bedroom safe.

Step 5 – Take additional precautions for high-risk destinations

Give travellers special briefings for destinations where espionage or cybercrime are of heightened concern. Give practical support too, such as providing burner phones and scrubbed laptops.