Essential Data Security Tips for Business Travelers

Business travel data security tips: Traveling for work can open employees up to a new host of security threats. 

The threats range from insecure Wi-Fi networks, and infected public charging ports, to Bluetooth attacks. 

Also, the volume of personal information shared for various activities has increased tremendously. 

Business Travel Data Security Tips

In a world where digital information commands high value, it’s vital to secure it, particularly when traveling.

In this article, we will explore several business travel data security tips you may take to keep your personal information safe. 

1. Secure your devices and accounts

This is one major business travel data security tip to be taken to heart. Before embarking on your journey, ensure all your devices, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets, are adequately secured. 

Set up complex passwords and PIN codes, or even better, biometric authentication methods to prevent unauthorized access.

Turn on the encryption features such as device encryption and encrypted messaging apps to protect your data from prying eyes.

Use a unique password for different accounts. This way if one is compromised, the rest are less likely to be affected, limiting the impact of a data breach.

Where possible, biometric authentication methods can also prevent password or Pin theft from shoulder surfing.

Treat your password like your toothbrush and keep it private. Do not share it and change it often.

2. Use secure networks

Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi, such as those in airports, cafes, and hotels, especially when doing banking online or entering sensitive financial information.

Instead, use a secure and trusted network, such as a personal mobile data connection or a virtual private network (VPN).

Ensure the websites you use for banking or payment purposes use https encryption, indicated by a padlock icon and “https” in the website address.

Always log out of your sessions when not in use to prevent session hijacking and only provide passwords and Pins at trusted locations – be aware of social engineering.

3. Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks

This is another major business travel data security tip. Shared public networks may be shared with dubious characters, or a free-to-use network may be a malicious decoy network set up to dupe the unwary. 

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A criminal snooping on a network can steal cookies or session tokens to gain access to your confidential services

4. Minimise location sharing 

It is common for travelers to update their social media accounts when they are traveling. The problem with this type of excessive sharing is that it creates a security threat at home.

By sharing your every location, it allows criminals to determine that you are not in your hotel room or home, leaving both your home and personal property vulnerable.

5. Use a VPN

VPNs can be used on phones connected to local cellular networks abroad, as well as laptops. By encrypting your data before it leaves your device, a VPN ensures any intercepted data remains unreadable.

Another VPN benefit is the ability to mask your location by assigning you a new IP address. This helps bypass any restrictions the Wi-Fi provider sets and enhances online anonymity