​Safeguarding your business and financial data is necessary, no matter what industry you're under. Information security must be included in every business process to avoid accidental data breaches and leaks. This is especially crucial when you need to outsource work to third-party companies.

Many prospective and promising outsourcing vendors, however, lack the expertise, processes and tools to keep data private and secure. If your business, for instance, plans to outsource 2D animation work to an experienced digital art company without knowing how to safeguard your data, you could be exposing your organization to data privacy risks. 

1. Practice Vulnerability Management by Restricting Vendor Access
The outsourcing company probably won't need to access every computer in your organization network (unless your third-party firm is servicing them). You should keep a close eye on the specific tasks you're outsourcing to your chosen vendor. Make sure that the third-party firm only has access to specific databases and programs that they need to complete the assigned job.

A good example is to apply the Policy of Least Privilege (POLP). If your vendor, for instance, suffers an information security issue like a data breach, you can rest easy because they're locked out of the critical systems.

2. Maintain an Intellectual Property Privacy Policy
This policy lays out what your business expects the third-party outsourcing company to do concerning data privacy and security. Policies typically include the following information:

• The kind of data that the outsourcing vendor will handle
• The measures that the vendor will undertake should a data breach happen
• The consequences that the outsourcing provider will face if a breach of trust occurs

You should tackle this policy at the start when you and the third-party firm are hashing out the details. This will prevent misunderstandings and complications down the road. Don't forget to take into account the privacy laws employed by your outsourcing company, especially if the location of the vendor is overseas.

3. Evaluate Your Outsourcing Vendor's Information Security Measures
Take the time to periodically double-check your outsourcing provider's data safeguarding measures. Even after you've established a fruitful and long relationship with your chosen vendor, you should check in with them occasionally to find out if their data security standards are up to date. Have your company's network administrator assess the user profiles of your outsourcing firm for possible problems like:

• Accounts with Unusual Privileges - Check if the vendor user accounts have access to databases and applications that are irrelevant to their assigned work. By doing so, you can identify possible security threats and fix them before a data breach occurs. If you come across unusual requests for data, you may be facing a potential information data breach.
• Passwords That Are Weak or Easy to Guess - Strong passphrases can make your network infrastructure more secure. Weak ones, on the other hand, are easier to hijack. When checking the user profiles, see if these accounts meet your organization's minimum password strength requirements.
• Inactive User Profiles - If a vendor user account becomes inactive for a long period, this may be a sign that the outsourcing provider is not deleting employee profiles from their system after the worker leaves the company. This can be a potential data security issue, as cybercriminals may compromise these accounts at some point and use them to launch attacks or gain access to sensitive business data. Getting rid of inactive and unnecessary accounts will help you minimize this risk.

4. Educate the Outsourcing Provider on the Proper Handling of Data
As a precautionary measure, lay down all the required processes concerning data management to the third-party company. If necessary, conduct training on the ins and outs of handling. This way, you make sure that everything runs smoothly and keep sensitive data from leaking.

5. Bolster Your Data Security Measures
Consider implementing database monitoring gateways and application layer firewalls to strengthen the data security of your organization. These measures safeguard the data from external, unauthorized access and track who's accessing the data.

6. Include Data Transfer Policies in Your Contract
Have the outsourcing provider sign a contract discussing the specifics of transmitting data. You could, for instance, require the third-party firm to:

• Transfer data online (transferring data via CDs and other hard media is not allowed)
• Encrypt any data the vendor transfers online
• Record all instances of data transfer and provide your business with access to this log

​Create a strategy before you outsource any task to a third-party vendor. You'll be in a better position to pre-emptively counter possible cybersecurity threats and attacks when you have the appropriate data security and privacy measures in place.

So, the holidays are here. I mean … for the year it’s been, it definitely flew by! In the midst of all the unfortunate events we’ve come across this year, the holidays are still a time of giving, love, and coming together. Whether via video chat or in person or social distancing, we are spreading love and engaging as best we can. For the ones who are still looking for something special this time a year to gift to a friend, family, loved one, Cratejoy has some lovely ideas that combine unique gifts for those humans in your life. Plus, if you shop through the links on this page, we earn commission. 

Plants right now are trending and with reason. The pandemic has shifted perspectives and the things we really need. So, why not gift a plant that helps keep the ambiance nice and fresh, add some color to a room, and help the oxygen flow. Here's a quick video featuring The Plant Club. Here’s the direct link to shop at your own pace and likings for a subscription plant box. ​You can also find a succulents box here.

Sometimes having snacks ready is the best way to go on a spontaneous road trip. Plus, it's also a great way to try out some things you've been wanting to but haven't had the chance to. Shop snacks and food subscription boxes here!

For yourself, your sis, mom and dad, or a friend! Agenda's are the absolute must have, especially when a lot of us are working from home. Staying on top of everything is facilitated by an agenda. Plus, it doesn't hurt if it's nice and attractive to the eye. Don't forget to pencil in some rest time and me time. 

​The Avant Agenda! ​Go on, treat yourself to a monthly luxury subscription box.

Literature has the power to create a new world for us, with our very own colors and imagination. Plus, it helps us exercise our brain and even our eyes. For the book lover and even for the one who doesn't know he/she loves books because they haven't had the right story, this box is both enticing and engaging. Shop here for book subscription boxes. 

You know the feeling when you open the door and see a box of something you ordered? Imagine opening it, but this time filled with carefully selected goodies specifically for a loved one... or you. Cratejoy boxes are undoubtedly the modern day baskets! 

We hope these fun boxes sparked something in you. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones! 

​Furthermore, this water-soluble antioxidant “helps prevent oxidation of water-soluble molecules that could otherwise create free radicals.” That’s why skin specialists recommend incorporating vitamin C into your skincare, especially during the day. Specialists say it helps protect the skin from the sun and free radicals, helping our skin’s aging process. 

Some foods that are rich in vitamin C include Brussel sprouts, broccoli berries, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, mango, papaya, kiwi, peppers, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and all citrus fruits and greens. It’s important to remember that “the body uses vitamin C in about two hours, and within three or four hours of ingestion, the vitamin leaves the bloodstream completely.” This is why ingesting vitamin C throughout the day, not just once a day, is recommended. But, of course, moderation applies to everything. Too much vitamin C, for example, can cause diarrhea, an upset stomach, excessive iron absorption, and reduced copper and selenium absorption. It’s important to take vitamin C in moderation and conduct research based on your body weight and nutrition needs. Here are some clues to help you pinpoint a vitamin C deficiency: joint pain, bleeding gums, poor digestion, easy bruising, reduced resistance to cold and infectious diseases. 

Whether you are on a plant-based lifestyle or not, remember, greens, fruits, and veggies are nature's sugar, carb, and protein. The benefits of foods that grow from the ground are endless. Be sure, however, that if you are not ingesting all the nutrients, you include supplements to complete your health needs and stay energized, strong, and healthy. 

It’s important that we as humans conduct our research, seek medical/nutritional information, and educate ourselves based on the needs our bodies require. We are all different, so what might work for some will not always work for others. 

​I've had this book for a while, but I found it online if you're interested. Here's the link: Vitamin C: Building Flexibility & Fighting Infection.  You can also try finding it at your public library. Libby is a great app where you can access library e-books  for free (no, this is not an ad... unless Libby would like to sponsor?).