Am I Using Secure Transcription Services?
When outsourcing for transcription, you will want the peace of mind that your information will be kept secure and safe. You could be discussing a disciplinary, conducting an interview for academic research which is on a sensitive subject, or interviewing a patient about their experience with a new drug breakthrough. You will want to be assured that your transcription services are professional and take it seriously.
Thankfully, many UK transcription services are very conscious of this. As business shifts towards being completely digital, transcriptionists strive to achieve fantastic security protocols to keep information safe. Here is what you should keep an eye out for when looking to hire a secure transcriptionist in the UK:
Website Data Encryption
Any transcription service who is security savvy will keep their website protected with up to date encryption protocols. When you visit their website, check if their web address starts with ‘HTTPS’. This will be a good sign – the ‘s’ stands for secure, and offers much better security for the site than the ‘HTTP’ alternative.
Also, check for SSL encryption, and for 256 bit at an absolute minimum. This means your data will be encrypted if you need to upload anything.
UK Based Team
It’s best to keep your services as local as possible, so you know what regulations and they will have had to go through. Many companies offer services from DBS checked workers who also sign annual confidentiality and security information agreements. See if they have any company policies on the site about this.
Email Encryption Option
A security transcription company will give you the option of sending over your audio via encrypted email. Encrypted emails are secure and offer total control.
GDPR
GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation, which is a very strict set of regulations which businesses in the UK must follow for their UK and European customers. This outlines many different data handling procedures and puts the responsibility of securing client data onto the business. So, most transcription services must have tightened security in place otherwise they could face fines.
Cyber Essentials
The Cyber Essentials scheme is an industry-supported and Government-backed certification that was created by the National Cyber Security Centre. Check that the transcription services have achieved this accreditation – it will mean that they have measures in place to fight the most common threats.
