The global economy becomes more relevant each day thanks to technology, the internet, and standard currencies.
Business operations from manufacturing to customer service management are successfully conducted throughout the world.
Many are still operating locally, but a growing number of businesses and corporations are regularly conducting business from remote locations.
Small business owners and established corporate executives are finding that Virtual Assistants give them an edge over their competition and leverage in the online marketplace.
Hiring a Virtual Assistant online has become a relatively common event, but does raise some valid concerns about security.
Information Security Online While the internet has made virtually every business process easier, online transactions pose a significantly higher risk of error, misuse, and fraud.
People are constantly inundated with warnings against providing their personal information online.
Personal and business transactions such as dating websites and internet auctions all create a potential risk for the misuse of personal data.
Companies who specialize in online information management offer measures to protect their clients by raising awareness around the areas of concern and to change the way information is collected.
Third party vendors offer temporary credit card numbers that customers use to make online purchases.
If a hacker is able to obtain the information from the temporary credit card, it will essentially be useless to them because it was created specifically for a single use.
Every additional layer of security that is added to online information management helps protect consumers and track down criminals who want to prosper off the hard work of others.
Impersonal business transactions and internet banking are one thing, but when a person must establish and maintain an ongoing relationship with another individual online, the situation becomes more complex.
Internet Hiring Practices The hiring process for a Virtual Assistant online is essentially the same as a personal interview conducted face to face.
An initial interview may be conducted by email or phone to ensure the person meets the qualifications for the projects at hand.
A secondary interview can be conducted via a video conference.
This step is essential to determine the genuine nature of the potential candidate.
This initial greeting process is very similar to the common sense advice given to members of online dating sites.
Quite simply, it makes sense to investigate and check out everything a person says about themselves.
A virtual assistant will eventually have access to potentially private information such as credit card data, financial account information, and much more.
Before hiring an assistant online, an employer must be completely comfortable with the interview process and be able to confirm the full name, physical address, and other verifiable contact information of the candidate.
It is not unreasonable to request references and even a criminal background check to ensure the integrity of information security online.
Diligent entrepreneurs and financial experts recommend staying in close communication with a virtual assistant to create a solid working relationship and a sense of loyalty.
The overall benefits of having an efficient virtual assistant take care of routine administrative tasks, such as billing and communication, are well worth the risk of transmitting personal data online.
Business owners should always conduct business through secure servers and never store personal or financial information in unsecured personal email accounts or on a personal desktop or laptop computer without encryption.