Personal data protection is a key consideration when selecting a global employer of record (EOR). Because an EOR acts on behalf of companies and their hires around the world, these partners have to collect and store extremely sensitive personal information. These types of data may include salary figures, addresses, bank information, and government-issued IDs, to name just a few. 

Imagine that information getting into the wrong hands! In addition to regulatory fines and penalties, a data breach could severely damage your company’s credibility and trust with the market and your employees. 

Fortunately, Remote has powerful information security practices in place, so you can rest easy knowing your data — and the data of your employees — is safe and secure. We also offer two-factor authentication (2FA) and single sign-on (SSO) for all users with a Remote platform login, providing an additional layer of security. 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) on Remote

Because many Remote users worldwide gain access to our platform using personal login credentials, it’s crucial that we keep the process as secure as possible. That’s why we recommend those users enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

Two-factor authentication greatly decreases the chance of a hacker gaining access to your Remote account and the data stored within. That’s because 2FA requires users to provide a time-sensitive code, which is sent to their mobile device each time they log in. This is done via an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Duo Mobile. 

Already a Remote user? Learn more about how to enable two-factor authentication in our help center.

In an effort to strengthen both platform security and experience, we are pleased to announce single sign-on (SSO) with SAML.

SSO allows Remote users to authenticate and access the platform using their company credentials (e.g. email and password). Admins will need to set up SAML SSO for their company in the platform under “Company settings”.

Already a Remote user? Learn more about how to enable single sign-on in our help center.

Remote takes ownership and responsibility for keeping company and personal information secure and compliant with all employment laws, no matter where you hire. You can rest assured that we're up to date on the latest data protection laws and technologies so you don’t have to be. 

How Remote Data Protection Guard goes above and beyond 

We created Remote Data Protection Guard to protect your data internationally. Here’s how it works.

Remote’s data security efforts are overseen by a data protection team that actively manages compliance, reports key issues to the board, and meets regularly with privacy champions in each department from engineering to marketing. With dedicated experts actively safeguarding your data, we can identify problems before they arise.

Remote operates a robust policy framework above and beyond international data security standards, endorsed and supported by our board and put into action by each member of our data security team. Our framework embeds data protection into every aspect of our organization and emphasizes privacy every time a new product or service is built or changed.

Every single member of our staff is trained and tested on data protection law and on our specific security policies during onboarding and at regular intervals thereafter. Remote also provides additional department-specific training as needed. Our privacy champions raise awareness of best practices on a weekly basis.

Remote is committed to fulfilling data subject rights requests in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), whether such requests are made by EU or non-EU residents. Our infrastructure was built to enable us to quickly and effectively scan our systems in order to action, track, and log data subject rights requests.

We carefully process the information needed to provide exceptional services for employers and employees. Every processing activity is outlined on our global website privacy policy and supplemented by various just-in-time privacy notices applicable to specific services or jurisdictions.

Every personal data processing activity, together with the lawful basis we rely on to do it, is documented in our comprehensive records of processing. The data protection team reviews these regularly together with the privacy champions in every department.

Every data exchange between Remote and our clients, partners, and suppliers is subject to a binding legal data-sharing arrangement. Before any supplier is granted access to sensitive data, that supplier must pass our robust vendor due diligence process. If a vendor does not pass our inspection, we do not use that vendor — simple as that. In addition, we conduct transfer impact assessments when sending information internationally, and, where necessary, we or our partners implement supplementary measures to safeguard such transfers.

Remote operates a number of risk registers (e.g. legal, business continuity, information security) that help us identify, record, and manage risks to personal data. All of our high-risk processing activities are subject to data protection impact assessments that are reviewed and improved on a regular basis.

Records management and information security

Remote is audited annually for SOC 2 compliance, and our key systems are annually pen-tested. Learn more about Remote security and compliance.

Although our processes focus on breach prevention, we have processes in place to assess, manage, and act upon any potential data breach swiftly and completely. Remote operates an in-house breach reporting process available to every staff member. Any incident that occurs is logged and made subject to a thorough breach assessment process, then reviewed by our data protection, incident management, and information security teams.

Want to see Remote Data Protection Guard in action? 

Our dedicated data protection team will be happy to talk to you and tell you more. Just access our Get in Touch form below with the subject “FAO: Data Protection Officer” and a member of our team will reach out to you as soon as possible.

How does Remote keep your company's data — and your employees' data — safe all over the world? Read this article to learn more!

How Remote protects sensitive employee and employer data

Protecting employee data, customer data, and IP should be a top priority for any company that operates digitally. Any system can be breached, and that data is worth more than gold. Most breaches become possible because of human error. Because companies employ people, the question for most businesses is not if but when they will experience a cybersecurity incident.

A security breach can be severe. You can lose a critical piece of your IP, lose the trust of your customers and employees, or even fail an audit ahead of a liquidation event, like an IPO or acquisition.

There is no 100% failsafe way to protect your company against a security breach. But you can reduce damage by building a cybersecurity response plan. 

A cybersecurity response plan is a set of instructions to help your company prepare for and respond to a data breach. As most data breaches are made possible by human error, a plan that does not account for human behavior is only part of a plan.

To respond as quickly and adeptly as possible and minimize the damage done by a data breach, you must include all areas of your business in your cybersecurity response plan. That includes all your staff, partners, contractors, and even local authorities. 

What are the key elements of a cybersecurity response plan? 

A cybersecurity response plan needs to contain particular elements to be effective. About half of a cybersecurity response plan is dedicated to preparation and training, as your employees need to be made aware of the risks, responsibilities, and protocols in the case of a data breach.

Preparation is key to a good cybersecurity plan. Even though you can never be fully ready for a data breach, you can prepare scenarios and identify security priorities beforehand.

Part of preparation is training your staff in cybersecurity and cybersecurity response. Training staff to avoid common pitfalls can help your company avoid the majority of breaches caused by human error.

The preparation stage is the perfect time to document, outline, and explain your team's roles and responsibilities. Here are some things to include:

Map the location, sensitivity, and value of all the data in your organization that needs to be protected.

Assign roles and responsibilities that include the entire company. Define who can trigger the plan and who will communicate what to your staff or customers.

Identify cybersecurity regulatory requirements and develop guidance on how to interact with law enforcement, the press, and your customers.

Establish procedures for IT teams to receive clear, actionable alerts of all detected malware. 

Store privileged credentials securely and create protocols to block account sessions from contractors or former employees.

Make sure you have a clean system ready for a full restore from a clean backup.

Any cybersecurity response plan needs to include allocation instructions for all necessary resources. That way, your employees will know where to go to find the resources they need once your systems go down.

If you don't plan this out in advance, chaos can quickly follow a data breach. You can't afford to lose precious time because of organizational disarray when a well-organized team would help you recover much more quickly.

Map out specific roles and individual responsibilities. That way, your entire staff knows whom to look to and what their responsibilities are when your systems are breached.

There's a role for all departments when responding to a cybersecurity event. You need senior engineers to coordinate the recovery effort and create damage reports; communications professionals to help with internal and external communication; legal teams for dealing with the authorities and determining how to press charges; and the list goes on.

If you're lucky, you won't need all hands on deck when responding to a cybersecurity breach. If you're not, you will be grateful you set individual responsibilities in advance.

Element 4: Incident identification protocols

Now that everyone knows what to do and where to find the resources they need, you need to set up protocols to monitor, detect, alert, and report security events. These incident identification protocols will help you determine whether your systems have been breached.

Setting up official incident identification protocols will help your company stay on alert at all times. Checking for data breaches at regular intervals will allow you to catch most intrusions early, making them easier to contain. 

Some of the questions that these protocols should address are: 

Your data can be breached on different levels and in different ways. Some might not merit a response; others can be so serious you have to shut down all your systems as a precaution; and the rest will fall somewhere in between. However, the most important thing is to contain the breach the moment it's discovered.

Containment protocols will help you contain, neutralize, and map the threat by isolating and disconnecting infected systems. That will prevent the cyberattack from spreading, potentially causing damage beyond repair. 

The last thing you should do during the containment phase is delete all the infected files and systems on sight. To eradicate the entire threat, repair your systems, and potentially press charges, you need to record and investigate every aspect of the breach. 

During containment, keep a log of the incident and response and preserve all the artifacts and details to analyze the full attack later.

Determine the timeline and location of the attack.

Check if and what sensitive data has been stolen or corrupted.

Update any firewalls and network security to capture evidence.

Engage the legal team and examine compliance risks to see if the incident falls under any specific regulations and determine whether you need to contact law enforcement.

The containment element of your cybersecurity response plan is all about mapping the incident and stopping it in its tracks. Eradication protocols will allow you to securely and thoroughly remove the malware and harden and patch up your systems.

When you're running your eradication protocols, be critical of all affected software and hardware. Anything that might give attackers a new way in or was corrupted needs to be removed or replaced.

Having clear protocols in place will give your team steady footing when eradicating the threat. Most things work better with a clear plan, and eliminating a cyber threat is one of them. 

Now that you've contained and eradicated the security breach, it's time to get your systems back up and running. That's where your recovery protocols come in. 

Having clear protocols for recovering your systems and data will help you get business operations back up as quickly as possible without needing to fear another breach. 

Your protocols can help your team make the right decisions quickly by outlining when you can return your systems to production. These protocols also answer questions of whether a system can be restored from a trusted backup and how to set up monitoring times after everything's back up and running to make sure your data is safe.

A cybersecurity event always strikes suddenly. When you do experience a data breach, your company must learn and adapt. By conducting a thorough retrospective analysis, you can get more insight into your blind spots.

If you skip the retrospective analysis, you lose a powerful opportunity to establish how your team should flag breaches, analyze incidents, and respond in a way that minimizes damage.

Learn more about how we've set up security and compliance at Remote to keep our customers’ data secure all over the world.

How a cybersecurity response plan benefits your business   

As more businesses store digital data, the importance (and value) of that data will only increase. Yet protections for IP and data are not automatic. You need to plan ahead to keep your valuable information safe.

By having a solid cybersecurity response plan, you'll be able to weather a data breach more effectively. Not only will your plan allow you to minimize damage, but handling a security event adeptly also sends your partners and customers the signal that you take security seriously and are capable of responding adeptly.

Another considerable benefit your company will enjoy from having a cybersecurity response plan is awareness within your team. Simply preparing for a data breach and practicing your response will confirm the importance of cybersecurity company-wide. 

When you work with distributed teams, it's crucial to keep your data and intellectual property protected around the world. That includes your dedication to keeping everyone's data safe and secure.

Training cybersecurity will increase tech literacy 

If you deal with a lot of data, it's easy to forget that not everyone knows what data means and why or how you should keep it safe — especially as your company and remote team grows. Even the most high-tech company employs non-technical staff. Legal, HR, marketing, and sales are only some jobs that don't require an extensive technical skillset.

You can teach your staff tech literacy by training them for cybersecurity response. Even if not all employees need the full skillset to detect, recover, and protect your data, it will help if they understand their roles. A cybersecurity response plan helps employees better understand the technical systems and how those systems interact with their own jobs, which can only help outcomes when a breach occurs.

If you're not on the lookout, a data breach can go unnoticed for a long time. The longer it takes to identify the problem, the greater the chances of more stolen data or infected systems. And nothing is worse for your reputation than a breach that has gone undetected for a long time.

Effective communication about your cybersecurity and proper detection protocols can help you catch a leak sooner, leading to faster containment and less data that can be leaked during the time of the breach. Keep lines of communication flowing to identify and react to issues quickly.

Coordinate the response between full-time staff and contractors

If you outsource part of your operations to other companies or contractors, that disconnect can lead to extra challenges when dealing with a cybersecurity event. When your systems go into lockdown, it's easy to forget to communicate the appropriate info. 

Clear protocols will help your communications department identify whom to alert to a data breach and with what info. International contractors are often not included in your day-to-day communications, so it's crucial to inform them of a breach when their work might be impacted.

Informing everyone will ensure a smooth response from your contractors and allow you to prevent the damage from growing worse. Learn more about how Remote makes international contractor management easy.

Don’t be caught off guard: Invest in a cybersecurity response plan today

As your teams spread across the globe, keeping everybody on the same page about something as important as your data is key to being successful. Not only can you minimize the damage to your systems, but reacting to a cybersecurity event appropriately will help you maintain your employees’ and customers’ trust. A cybersecurity response plan is a great way to prepare, train, and respond to a data breach. 

The eight elements discussed in this article will allow you to build a comprehensive approach to a cyberattack response. By preparing, training, and allocating responsibilities and resources in advance, you increase your team’s tech literacy and general preparedness. You can then move quickly to contain the threat, eradicate malware and any infected systems, and recover your operations in a concerted effort. 

As soon as you start thinking about your cybersecurity response in a structured manner, decisions on how to build a secure system will come easier. Simply running the scenarios will help you set everything up as securely as possible. This exercise will also make you more able to choose partners who keep security in mind. The moment you entrust a company with your data, you need to be sure they keep that information as secure as possible. 

We at Remote are keenly aware of the importance of data security and IP protection. If you want to learn more about how we protect our customers’ sensitive data, be sure to check out our full suite of data protection solutions.

How to respond to a cybersecurity incident and minimize risk in a globally distributed and remote-first environment

What is a cybersecurity response plan? How global teams can minimize risk

Are you prepared to protect your valuable intellectual property and sensitive data when you employ workers in multiple countries?

If you have questions about IP and data protection abroad, we are here to help. In this in-depth webinar, three of Remote’s top global employment experts come together to share their tips and strategies on how to keep your company protected.

Why worry about international IP protection and data security?

Protections for IP and data are not automatic. Not only do you need to keep your valuable information safe, but you must continue to do so to avoid potential losses.

Remote understands international intellectual property rights better than anyone else. That’s why we developed Remote IP Guard: the safest, most effective way to ensure you retain maximum ownership of your intellectual property when you have workers in other countries. With Remote, you never have to worry about third parties or unnecessary exposure to risk. Our intellectual property transfer process is the smartest and safest way to stay safe as you grow.

In addition to our IP protections, Remote also offers the strongest data protection for companies hiring abroad. We are industry leaders in data protection and hold a number of rigorous certifications that showcase our commitment to good data practices. See for yourself how Remote sets the standard in data security.

Don’t wait! If you have questions about IP protection and data security, this webinar has the answers you need.

Ready to see for yourself what Remote can do for your business? Contact us today and one of our experts will help you discover the best way to grow your global team quickly, safely, and compliantly.

[Webinar Recording] IP protection and data security for distributed teams

When everyone works in the same office, intellectual property rights are fairly straightforward. Employees produce work on company time, using company property, at the company’s office, and that work belongs to the company. This traditional structure insulates businesses from most claims against their IP and invention rights.

Remote work changes the dynamic by introducing new vulnerabilities. That’s not to say companies should avoid hiring employees in other countries: on the contrary, a global workforce is an essential strength for companies to remain competitive, even small businesses. However, companies should be cautious to avoid unnecessary risk while growing their global teams.

As the top global employment solutions provider, Remote helps businesses with workers in dozens of countries protect their IP from both internal and external vulnerabilities. Let’s look at the challenges of international laws and examine how Remote provides the best IP and invention rights protection in the industry.

Which companies should care about IP and invention rights with remote workers?

The short answer: all of them. If you have workers abroad, you need to be concerned about protecting your IP and invention rights. Even if you don’t believe you have much intellectual property, you probably do. Your brand, for example, is part of your intellectual property.

Certain businesses should pay special attention to IP rights:

Tech. IP and invention rights for tech companies can be complicated. Many countries lack the proper regulations to account for all the different types of tech IP and methods of creation. Businesses working with foreign engineers, programmers, product managers, and other tech talent must be especially vigilant.

Finance. Every highly regulated industry requires the highest levels of protection across the board. In finance, companies working with new clients often go through internal audits, including the levels of protections for IP.

Energy. Invention rights are especially important for energy companies. Drawing the line between what belongs to the company and what belongs to employees can help businesses in this sector avoid costly legal battles and negative press.

Manufacturing. In manufacturing, every piece of machinery is filled with a variety of different types of IP and protected inventions. Manufacturing companies exercise enormous caution to prevent industrial espionage, so why wouldn’t these same companies take every precaution to protect their IP?

Startups considering liquidity events. Startups should be especially careful regarding invention rights and IP. That goes double for startups looking at a liquidity event, like an acquisition or IPO. The due diligence required to prepare for such an event not only includes evaluations of IP protections but also evaluations of relationships with employees and contractors. The last thing a startup needs before an IPO is uncertainty regarding ownership of the work it has created.

These are only a few examples of situations where IP and invention rights protections are essential. Now that it’s easier than ever for companies of all sizes to employ international workers, every startup should take IP protection seriously from the beginning to avoid major headaches down the road.

What are the dangers of poor IP protection abroad?

First, it is vital to understand that intellectual property laws vary from country to country. The approach a company uses to protect its IP and invention rights in one country may not work in another. Failure to understand, respect, and follow the laws of another country could result in loss of protections for the company’s IP and invention rights.

Losing these protections can lead to a host of problems: some small, others catastrophic. For example:

You could lose deals. Security is more important than ever. Partners want to work with companies that have robust protections in place. If you cannot promise potential customers that you own all you say you do (and will continue to do so), you could lose major deals you would have otherwise won.

You could fail an audit. Are you looking at a liquidity event, such as a sale or an IPO? Are you subject to inspection from regulators? If so, you cannot afford to leave your intellectual property and invention rights to chance.

You could damage your reputation. No company wants to be in the news for the wrong reason. An accusation from an employee or contractor that the company stole IP is definitely the wrong reason. With the proper protections in place, though, disputes end quietly before things get ugly.

You could get dragged into a costly legal battle. Without proper protections regarding remote workers in foreign countries, you could find yourself fighting in another country’s court system to keep your own IP. These battles can be difficult to win, especially in countries where laws on creation favor creators over companies.

In some countries, intellectual property rights default to the creator over the commissioner. So, if your company works with a contractor in another country, the intellectual property for the work that contractor creates may default to the contractor if the contract has any weaknesses. Employment contracts tend to be more secure than contractor agreements, but companies can still lose IP and invention rights protections in foreign countries in some instances.

The worst danger, however, arises when a company believes its IP is secure when it is not. Some global employment solutions providers rely on third parties, passing the IP of their customers back and forth between multiple places. This is one of the clearest advantages of an owned-entity global employment solution over a partner-dependent global employment solution.

How Remote protects your IP and invention rights around the world

Failing to protect your IP and invention rights comes with consequences. On the other hand, successfully protecting those rights insulates your business from harm while empowering you to grow your global team with confidence.

Remote offers the most secure, most reliable IP and invention rights protections in the industry. In fact, Remote’s global employment solution is so strong, we actually offer a higher level of protection than you could achieve through a direct transfer of IP from your international employees to your company.

Learn how Remote protects your intellectual property around the world with Remote IP Guard.

It may sound strange, but because countries have different laws on how IP enters and exits the country, Remote’s global employment solution can provide greater security than a direct employee-to-company international transfer.

Remote is able to offer the highest level of protection because:

Some global employment solutions providers do not own their own entities. Instead, they rely on partners to handle the workload on their behalf. Not only is this model more expensive for customers, but it also means your IP gets passed through multiple parties before finally reaching you. All that movement exposes your IP to unnecessary risk at every exchange.

Remote owns our own legal entities in every country where we offer global employment services. That means we never ask an intermediary to take possession of your IP. We are your global employment partner, and we provide our services directly to you.

We use an ironclad two-step IP transfer process.

As a global employment solutions provider, we offer a variety of services. Sometimes, we simply handle global payroll for your own local entities. Other times, we employ your workers on your behalf with our in-country entities, allowing you to hire all over the world without expensive overhead.

When we employ workers on your behalf, we use a two-stage approach to transfer the IP from the employee to you. First, we transfer the IP from the employee to Remote, in accordance with our country-specific employment agreements. Then, we transfer the IP to you. As international experts in IP and invention rights laws, we guarantee the maximum transfer of IP to you, every time. The IP belongs to you from the beginning, and we guarantee you receive it legally and easily thanks to our best-in-class service.

We deliver you the maximum protections under every country’s local laws.

You don’t have to be an expert in international IP law to hire internationally. We take care of everything to provide you with the highest level of protection in every country where you have employees. Remote’s in-country teams of legal experts craft employee agreements that comply with all applicable local laws, allowing you to rest easy.

What happens if your employees move to a new country? Don’t worry: we take care of that, too. Because we own our own legal entities, we have an international network of legal expertise ready to help from start to finish. The power of a global infrastructure with the precision of a local legal team — that’s the Remote difference.

Protect your IP and your global team with Remote

Remote’s global employment solutions include payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance to empower companies of all sizes to employ top talent all over the world. We protect your IP and invention rights better than anyone else, in addition to providing your company and your employees with a first-class experience all over the world. Contact us today to learn how Remote can help you grow your global team securely.

How do companies protect their intellectual property right and invention rights with remote workforces? This guide walks you through all you need to know about IP and global employment.

Data Security & IP

How Remote protects sensitive employee and employer data

What is a cybersecurity response plan? How global teams can minimize risk

[Webinar Recording] IP protection and data security for distributed teams

Intellectual property and invention rights for global teams: What every company needs to know