In simple words, we can understand outsourcing as the business practice of hiring a third-party organization to perform services or create goods that were traditionally done in-house by the company’s staff and employees. Outsourcing entered into the mainstream entrepreneurial culture during the 1990s, and since then, there has been no long back.
Currently, outsourcing is a common phenomenon, adopted by everyone – from start-ups to bigwig MNCs. Outsourcing has multiple advantages, such as access to a global talent pool, lower operational costs, increased cost savings, faster time to market, and more. However, outsourcing is also plagued by a pertinent problem – security risks.
Seven Simple Steps to Avoid Leaks and Hacks While Outsourcing
Following some simple tips and tricks can help avoid leaks and hacks while outsourcing.
- Lay Down the Objectives
Firstly, you must remember that cost reduction must not be the sole motive of outsourcing. Excessive focus on cost savings can lead you to choose the cheapest service provider, who may not be the best at what they do. Therefore, an unsuccessful outcome and security risks can happen.
- Shoddy Requirements and Unclear Expectations
Remember that outsourcing is a business practice and not a magic tool. So, align your expectations with reality and communicate them effectively to the outsourcing vendor. Unrealistic expectations veiled as unwavering confidence can lead to over-promising and under-delivery on the vendor’s part.
- Understand the Severity of Risks
A lack of knowledge of the risks that outsourcing a project or a part of a project can cause complications and extra delays during the delivery phase. So, do your own research and talk to your vendor about security threats, the prospects of leaks, and hacking. Once you understand security, partner with a reliable company such as Velocity Tech Solutions to discuss your biggest concerns.
- Communication is Important
Another way to minimize security risks and leak prospects during outsourcing is by simply communicating your concerns to the vendor. Effective communication is crucial for the smooth and seamless transfer of requirements and processes to the remote team. The failure to do so can have catastrophic results.
- Leerage the Right Technology
If you stick to obsolete technologies or are lured by the latest technologies that do not suit your project requirements, the outcome can be security risks, under-delivery, and other problems. Such missteps can also lead to budget overruns, release delays, and more.
- Talent Retention and People-Oriented Factors
The success of outsourcing a project veritably depends upon people-oriented elements. So, it’s essential to retain the right talent. The presence of a disengaged and disinterested remote team is a sure-shot recipe for failure and budget overruns. Besides, a nonchalant team also means that the risks to security increase.
- Avoid Micromanagement
Last of all, one way to prevent leaks, hacks, and other security threats in an outsourcing project is by avoiding the urge to micromanage. At times, as a core team member, you might feel the compulsion to over-manage the remote outsourcing team. But, such steps only lead to frustration, and do more harm than good.
