Have you ever wondered whether the apps we use daily are safe? Even though our personal data might be at stake, companies are at a much bigger risk! Employees regularly use various chat apps to talk about work, sometimes mentioning confidential information and issues competitors may profit from! So, how can businesses protect themselves from such malicious acts?
Employers and managers can’t forbid employees to talk about work. But what they can do is provide them with reliable and safe solutions where they can do so! What are the most reliable apps your employees can use for communicating? We’ve sorted them according to their purpose:
1. Chatting
The first thing that comes to people’s minds when communication is mentioned is chatting. Chat apps tend to be extremely popular among younger generations, however, older folks aren’t too far behind! People use chat apps daily to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. However, group chats are also common in work environments. Are our usual chat apps such as messengers reliable for employee communication?
It depends. Most apps don’t use encrypted communication, which can lead to stolen data and personal information. This is bad for business, so consider using safer options like Slack or Trello to communicate with your teams. Real-time communication is essential for relationships and overall workflow, so utilize it properly.
2. Video calls
When the coronavirus pandemic started, businesses were in a desperate search for tools that would keep them connected while working remotely. Video conferencing apps were just the thing everyone needed to stay in touch and maintain the working environment while performing tasks at home. Are such apps reliable and safe to use in a business context?
Definitely! Besides being easy to access from a large number of devices, video conferences are perfect for team catch-ups, as well as, one on one with mentors and team leaders. Each time you create a new virtual room to have a talk with your colleagues. The only downside to apps like Zoom or Microsoft Teams is that they take up too much time and can disturb someone’s workflow.
3. Social networking
Social networking isn’t a way of communication you’ll hear often about. It is believed that social media reduces productivity and damages employees’ focus while working. While this may be the truth for some, so-called knowledge workers tend to be more productive by 25%! How is that possible?
Chatting and talking isn’t the only way of communication. Content and information might be the most important pieces of communication you’ll come across in the business environment! Therefore, using social media, such as private Facebook groups, internally allows employees to access such content, connect with one another and strengthen their bonds. This is something worth considering for non-manufactural businesses.
4. Intranet
Do you need a solution that will exclusively be used by your employees? Then an intranet is a perfect enterprise for all kinds of businesses, no matter the size. Intranet can only be accessed by your employees, which makes it the most reliable platform for communication, information, and data exchange.
One downside of many intranets is that it is not supported by mobile devices. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, employees spend a lot of time on their phones and prefer them for communication. So, if you have an important update you want your workers to see right away, search for a solution that can be used on phones as well. It’s perfect for frontline workers and other teams to stay connected and engaged. If you feel like this is interesting for your company, find out more here.
5. Emailing
Believe it or not, email still tends to be the most popular tool employees use for communication. However, many claim they feel overwhelmed by the volume of business emails they receive daily. To protect themselves and their mental health, a lot of employees tend to ignore unimportant emails that are not directly work-related. This leads us to the question: Is emailing the most reliable way of communicating?
If you use unsafe accounts that are not encrypted, chances are your data and safety might be jeopardized. Consider using providers like Microsoft’s Outlook or similar that are protected. However, you still need to be cautious about various sketchy senders if you want to maintain safety.
6. Task assigning
To utilize and practice effective communication, having a tool that helps collaboration and task assigning is also essential. Many apps like Trello have multiple features, which include chatting and task assigning. This can be beneficial for your team and communication as it will be clear who does what!
However, if you prefer apps with a single purpose, Asana is a project management app that will help you achieve all you need regarding your tasks. These apps aren’t only easy to use, but they are safe and reliable for businesses that operate with confidential data.
Final thoughts
Having reliable apps for communication is of utmost importance for all businesses. One way or another, your employees will need to communicate with one another. Therefore, providing them with safe and trustworthy solutions will help you avoid any privacy issues.
