Steps To Secure Web Conferencing

Written by Steve Bryan

To avoid the high costs associated with travel these days, many companies are using the Internet to hold virtual meetings or "webinars" with their employees and clients. Since these virtual meetings can involve sensitive company material, it's important to use secure web conferencing when meeting online.

Eliminate the eavesdroppers
To ward off hackers, industrial spies and other online eavesdroppers, secure web conferencing makes use of the following security measures:

• Secure sockets layer (SSL): A SSL sets up a secure connection between you and the authorized conference participants, encrypting any data that's transferred; this keeps confidential information from being stolen or changed by someone outside the firm.
  When logging into the meeting, the Internet browser's address bar will display "https" instead of "http" if your conference is using SSL.
• Constant monitoring: During the online meeting, you should have at least one IT specialist who monitors the participants and looks for possible intruders. They should immediately disconnect anyone who isn't invited, including employees who haven't been specifically invited to the conference.
• Password protection: To gain access, each participant should receive a conference password that's been sent to them on a secure email server. For additional protection, you may want to assign everyone an individual access code that they must use to verify their identity.

Instant Vendor Comparison

Select the vendors that you would like to compare
• Non-persistent data storage: Like an ongoing shell game, any data that you transmit during a web conference should not be stored in one location for very long. During the presentation, make sure that your confidential data is constantly being switched between different servers.
  Secure web conferencing also means limiting participants' ability to save data or print out copies of documents and diagrams. The conference software should give you the power to control any data access.
• Physical security: The conference should be held on a very secure network, so make sure that only a limited number of people have physical access to the network. For secure video conferencing, don't videotape the presentation unless you plan to distribute it at a later time.

In-house versus third-party for secure web conferencing?
To ensure secure web conferencing, some companies prefer to purchase a software package and have their in-house Information Technology department help with the meeting. While this may feel more secure, your internal staff may not be completely familiar with all the requirements of secure web conferencing.

There are plenty of experienced companies who will host your online meeting on their computer systems. While you are relying on their security measures, secure web conferences are a central component of their business: they have to stay on top of emerging threats and new privacy technologies. Use BuyerZone's free web conferencing quote request service to find several qualified providers who can help you affordably run a secure web conference.