AdvicePay Financial Advisor Community Blog

5 Tips for Secure Video Conferencing

April 15, 2020 By Scott Doty
Scott Doty

Whether it is chatting with your loved ones or conducting a meeting with your clients, video conferencing has increasingly become the new normal. With the increased number of video conferences, there has been chatter around security and potential risks you face when video conferencing. To ensure that video conferencing is not a source of vulnerability for you or your clients, we have compiled a list of video conference security best practices that you can implement now to ensure you are staying secure.


5 Tips for Secure Video Conferencing

1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA, or sometimes referred to as two-factor authentication, provides an additional layer of security authentication in addition to your login password. So, how does MFA work? There are various different forms of MFA, but the most common are performed by sending you a one-time token or pin via a key fob, mobile application, SMS (text message), or phone call. This is available today in many systems including most video conferencing platforms. You typically have the option to turn on or enable MFA within system settings. It is recommended that you use MFA when it is available.

2. Password Protect Your Meeting

All video conferencing platforms have the functionality to secure a meeting via password or pin. However, some video conference platforms do not do this by default or may give you the option when scheduling a meeting. Make sure that you are password protecting your meetings to help prevent unwanted participants from joining.

 

3. Managing Meeting Participants

Most video conferencing platforms offer various functions that allow you to manage the meeting participants. This can include functionality like muting participants, stopping participant video, preventing screen sharing, locking the meeting, assigning a host or co-host, bumping a participant out of a meeting, and more. All these features can help you control how participants are interacting within your meeting and even better secure your meeting.

 

4. Sharing Your Meeting 

When inviting participants to your meeting, make sure that you share the invitation via appropriate secure channels (like your company secure email or company instant messaging.) Never post meetings of a confidential nature in public forums where anyone that sees the invitation can access your meeting. There are situations, such as webinars and marketing presentations, that you may need to share your meeting publicly. In public situations, those meetings should be one-time meetings where you use a unique meeting id and password.

 

5. Update Video Software 

All software vendors regularly provide software updates to fix software bugs and potential security issues. Make sure that you are updating your video conferencing software frequently so that you have the latest fixes and security updates.


While all video conferencing platforms serve a similar purpose, many offer different features and security. Take a moment to visit your video conferencing vendor's website to find security tips related to your specific video conference platform.


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Posted by Scott Doty

As AdvicePay’s Chief Information Security Officer, Scott oversees our complex data security approach, mitigating risks and keeping us current on preventive measures. His degree in Management Information Systems from Auburn University and background in the financial services industry has enabled him to bring tremendous value to our team. Outside of work, you will catch Scott spending time with his family, coaching the Bozeman School’s Special Olympics Swim Team, or exploring the great outdoors.

Topics: Practice Management