How To Maintain Privacy & Security When Working With A Virtual Assistant

Supply chains have become more complex, increasing the demand for innovative machine learning and artificial intelligence, particularly when it comes to risk management and security. Below are some tips which will help organizations better maintain privacy and security when working with a virtual assistant.

Utilize Multi-factor Authentication

This form of authentication is extremely robust and makes it far more difficult for hackers to access your account. Even if they are able to figure out your password, multi-factor authentication requires both the password as well as another piece of data. This secondary data could be a temporary phone code or a randomly generated number. Review your account’s security settings to learn how to implement this extra layer of protection if you already haven’t.

Review your Privacy Policy

There have been instances when voice assistant designers used their employees to eavesdrop on audio recordings, usually to improve their products. However, many have stopped doing it, for fear of being discovered and reported by the media. Before purchasing a virtual assistant, be sure to read through their privacy policy carefully to learn how they handle recordings and who will hear them.

Make Sure your Login is Always Secure

Creating a password that is strong and difficult to guess is extremely important. Ideally, it should utilize a combination of numbers, symbols, and letters, with the optimal length starting at 12 characters and above. Some experts also recommend mixing lower and upper case letters. Stay away from common phrases or words, and try not to reuse passwords from other accounts, as any hacker which gains access to them would also be able to compromise your virtual assistant.

Know how your Virtual Assistant is Connected

While it might seem convenient to combine email links or shopping features with the virtual assistant, it can be dangerous because others might also be able to gain access. However, If you prefer to head in that direction, you can enhance your security by installing a PIN that can control, and prevent others from utilizing voice commands for making purchases. You should also verify whether it is possible to install a passcode that can allow email access. While some virtual assistants can enable these features, not all offer the same benefits.

Review Your Settings Periodically

You will want to periodically review your default settings. When doing so, analyze your conversation history and consider deleting the older recordings. This can be accomplished within the voice app itself or by logging into the account, which might be accessible from the website of the manufacturer.

IT departments should view virtual assistants in the same light as other IoT devices. The devices must not be used in places where sensitive information can be compromised, and it is best to segment them from the larger corporate network in case unauthorized parties are able to gain access. One of the best ways to segment virtual assistants is by connecting them to guest Wi-Fi networks, which won’t be able to access your internal resources.