IT experts don’t agree that outsourcing threatens US employment. They are, however, concerned with the potential customer data security issues it may present, especially for programs being handled in offshoring locations.

Tech outsourcing firms and every call center in the Philippines, India, UK, and other offshoring sites are not exempted from the risks that brought industry experts to the notion that the “global cyber landscape is a scary place.”

And for them, outsourcing is one of the underlying causes of cybercrime.

These are just some of the topics highlighted at the RSA Conference, an information security gathering attended by thousands of IT and Internet leaders around the world. The talk, however, did not leave outsourcing in a bad light.

But where does the threat come from?

Andy Ellis, chief security officer of software firm Akamai Technologies, attributed the threat to low-cost, low-quality outsourcing deals. He noted that companies get the damaging equivalent of the cheap services they buy.

“You get what you pay for,” he said. “If you move it to somewhere that’s a lower cost, there’s a reason it’s lower cost. Sometimes it’s because you aren’t getting as skilled personnel.”

Attendees did not discount the merits of outsourcing, but they agreed that it has untold consequences if put on the hands of an unreliable vendor. Manufacturers may have lesser worries on this matter, but for companies trusting an outside entity for their web-based tasks such as accounting and app development, the possibility of data theft can be a major downside.

Is the Philippines a safe place to outsource?

“A hundred percent of third parties showed signs of compromise or indicators of threats,” LookingGlass Cyber Solutions security analyst Chris Coleman made this startling revelation after auditing 20 subcontractors hired by big international banks.

Inferring from this, there is no place that is truly free from the threat of data theft. There are, however, reliable firms that keep data safe from intrusions.

For Cisco chief security officer John Stewart, “It really depends on where you’re sitting, what you think the risk is.” He noted that countries that mandate businesses to report breaches build better trust in clients.

As cybercrime is a hot topic, outsourcing is a sensible decision with every call center in the Philippines working on strengthening their cybersecurity ecosystems. This is driven by companies and customers demanding safer transactions with brands and the government pushing for more policies that fortify their stand against Internet crimes.

And having long experience and high reputation in delivering telemarketing, IT, and customer service solutions to international clients, Philippine outsourcing firms assure that customer data is kept and handled professionally since these services where the country excels involve data extraction and gathering from customers.

As a reputable call center in the Philippines, Open Access BPO maintains a robust data security ecosystem with operations that adhere to international compliance and attestations, including PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2. Contact us today, schedule a consultation, and let’s build a secure multilingual program for your brand.