The 2020 SolarWinds cyberattack on the U.S. federal government serves as a stark reminder of the risks we face. Attackers, believed to be backed by Russia, exploited vulnerabilities in common software, accessing sensitive communications for months. The root cause? Inadequate encryption and security.
Similarly, enterprises lose an average of $4.45 million per data breach, according to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023.
With cyber threats and surveillance risks at an all-time high, finding the right encrypted messaging platform is more of a strategic need for government agencies, defense organizations, and regulated enterprises.
In this guide, we have compiled a list of questions that leaders and decision-makers must ask before opting for an encrypted messaging platform.
12 questions you have to ask before selecting an encrypted messaging platform
Before you commit to an encrypted messaging platform, make sure it ticks all the boxes for security and usability. Here are 12 essential questions to inquire:
1. What type of encryption does the platform use, and does it prevent unauthorized access?
Despite being the standard for privacy-oriented enterprises and governments, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) ensures that only intended recipients can access messages, while weaker models like transport-layer encryption still leave data vulnerable on servers.
In 2021, WhatsApp's metadata tracking controversy highlighted that E2EE alone isn’t enough—organizations need full control over encryption policies.
To address these concerns, opt for platforms offering robust E2EE combined with customizable encryption policies for enhanced security. Consider the following functions in the platform:
- Zero-knowledge encryption: Ensures that even the service provider cannot access user data.
- Client-side encryption: Encrypts data before it reaches the server, ensuring only the user controls access.
- Forward secrecy: Generates unique encryption keys for each session, minimizing the risk of long-term data exposure.
2. Who controls the encryption keys, and can we host them on-premise?
For enterprises and government agencies, ensuring a third party doesn’t store encryption keys is critical. This is especially true for government agencies working with sensitive defense contracts (e.g., the U.S. Department of Defense) that require self-hosted encryption for classified data.
Maintaining complete control over sensitive information becomes more feasible with solutions such as:
- On-premise key management: Ensures encryption keys remain within the organization’s infrastructure.
- Hardware security modules (HSMs): Provide a dedicated, tamper-resistant environment for secure key storage.
- Bring your own key (BYOK): Allows organizations to retain control over encryption keys while using cloud services.
- Hold your own key (HYOK): Ensures encryption keys never leave the organization’s control, even when interacting with external services.
- Air-gapped encryption: Air-gapped encryption isolates encryption processes from external networks, providing the highest level of security for classified data.
3. Does the platform comply with industry-specific security and privacy regulations?
Failing to comply with GDPR, HIPAA, FedRAMP, or ISO 27001 can lead to multi-million dollar fines and reputational damage.
In 2023, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fined TikTok €14.5 million for violating data protection laws by allowing children under 13 to create accounts on the platform, making it the most notable public fine.
Therefore, selecting a platform that meets all necessary compliance standards relevant to your industry can safeguard against regulatory pitfalls and fines.
4. Can the platform integrate with our enterprise security stack (SSO, MFA, SIEM)?
In 2021, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack exploited weak authentication, forcing a $4.4 million ransom payment.
Usually, government and enterprise IT teams must rely on LDAP, Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and Security Information & Event Management (SIEM) for user authentication and threat monitoring.
Make sure the encrypted messaging platform comes with secure authentication processes. It should have robust integrations to bolster threat monitoring.
5. Is the platform open source or proprietary, and how does it impact security?
Open-source encryption is independently auditable, while proprietary software can obscure vulnerabilities. As a case in point, the Log4j vulnerability was quickly patched due to open-source collaboration, while closed-source vendors took longer to react.
Therefore, open-source solutions provide transparency and allow organizations to verify security, ensuring a proactive approach to vulnerabilities independently. Apart from that, look for the following attributes in your shortlisted encrypted messaging platforms:
- Community-driven security enhancements: Continuous improvements and peer reviews strengthen the overall security of open-source solutions.
- Customizability and control: Businesses can tailor encryption mechanisms to meet their security and compliance needs.
- Reproducible builds: Verifiable builds ensure that compiled software matches the source code, preventing hidden backdoors.
- Homomorphic encryption: Enables computations on encrypted data without exposing it, preserving security while allowing analysis.
- Post-quantum cryptography: Future-proofs encryption against emerging quantum computing threats.
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6. Can encrypted messages be audited while maintaining compliance?
Government agencies and regulated enterprises need secure logging, audit trails, and admin controls without breaking encryption. Additionally, financial services firms must retain communication records to comply with SEC Rule 17a-4 and FINRA regulations.
The most effective platforms strike a balance by offering compliance-friendly logging and auditing while preserving data security. Choose an encrypted messaging platform that offers:
- Immutable audit logs: Ensure that records cannot be altered or deleted, maintaining data integrity for compliance.
- Encrypted journaling: Stores communication records in an encrypted format, ensuring access is restricted to authorized auditors.
- Privacy-preserving logging: Uses cryptographic techniques like zero-knowledge proofs to verify compliance without exposing message contents.
- Granular access controls: Restrict log access based on roles, ensuring only authorized personnel can review audit data.
- Blockchain-based audit trails: Provides tamper-proof, decentralized logging to enhance compliance transparency.
7. How does the platform protect against insider threats and unauthorized access?
According to the Verizon DBIR 2023, 85% of data breaches involve human error or insider threats.
Strict role-based access control (RBAC) and zero-trust principles are necessary. Plus, the Snowden leaks in 2013 exposed how weak access controls led to mass data exposure.
To mitigate insider threats and human errors, organizations must adopt a multi-layered security approach to limit the exposure to sensitive data. Here are some functions that can help:
- Just-in-time (JIT) access: Grants temporary access to sensitive systems only when needed, reducing the risk of persistent insider threats.
- User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA): Uses AI to detect anomalous activities that may indicate insider threats.
- Attribute-based access control (ABAC): Expands RBAC by considering additional factors like device type, location, and behavior patterns.
- Microsegmentation: Limits access to specific network areas, preventing lateral movement in case of a breach.
8. Does the platform offer air-gapped deployment for high-security environments?
Government and military organizations often cannot rely on cloud-based messaging apps due to security regulations. To prevent cyber espionage, NATO and defense contractors require on-premise, offline-capable communication platforms.
In this scenario, go for encrypted messaging platforms that support air-gapped deployments for total network isolation. You can also look for:
- On-premise encrypted chat servers: Allow full control over data and encryption keys, eliminating third-party risks.
- Hardware-based encryption modules: Secure communication endpoints with tamper-resistant encryption hardware.
- Peer-to-peer (P2P) encrypted messaging: Enables direct, decentralized communication without reliance on centralized servers.
- Quantum-resistant encryption protocols: Future-proof messages against emerging threats from quantum computing.
- Secure ephemeral messaging: Ensures that sensitive messages self-destruct after a defined period, reducing exposure risks.
9. Does the platform support remote data wipe capabilities?
In cases of lost, stolen, or compromised devices, being able to remotely delete sensitive data is crucial. This protects your confidential information from unauthorized access and maintains the integrity of your communications.
Choosing encrypted messaging platforms with remote data wipe capabilities significantly improves endpoint security and reduces the impact of breaches.
10. Are there message lifetime controls to manage data retention?
Implementing controls that define how long messages are stored can enhance security and compliance. Features like self-destructing messages automatically delete communications after a specified period, reducing the risk of exposing sensitive information.
Platforms with configurable message retention policies help organizations align with compliance needs while mitigating unnecessary data retention risks.
11. What devices are supported, and is there multi-device synchronization?
A versatile encrypted messaging platform should be accessible across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and desktops. Multi-device synchronization ensures that users have consistent access to their messages, regardless of the device they're using.
So, select platforms that offer consistent and secure experiences across all devices to maintain operational efficiency.
12. How mature and reliable is the platform's technology?
The maturity of a platform's technology reflects its reliability and security. Established platforms with a proven track record are more likely to have ironed out vulnerabilities and offer robust support.
Evaluating the platform's history, user base, and response to past security incidents can provide insights into its dependability. Also, check for:
- Long-term vendor support: Frequent updates, active patching, and ongoing R&D investment ensure the platform remains secure over time.
- Community and expert audits: Open reviews from security researchers and independent audits validate the platform’s security claims.
- Backward compatibility and future readiness: Mature platforms maintain stability while adapting to evolving security challenges and technologies.
Encrypted messaging platform: Features that make Rocket.Chat the perfect fit
Among the leading encrypted messaging platforms, Rocket.Chat stands out as a robust and adaptable choice for organizations with high security and compliance needs.
Here are some of its key features:
- Advanced encryption: Offers end-to-end encryption for direct messages and flexible self-hosted encryption mechanisms, ensuring robust data security.
- Regulatory compliance: Supports compliance with global standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST, and FedRAMP, making it ideal for regulated industries.
- Open-source transparency: Allows organizations to audit and verify security independently.
- Enterprise integration: Seamlessly integrates with LDAP, SAML-based SSO, MFA, and SIEM logging for comprehensive threat management.
- Deployment flexibility: Supports air-gapped, on-premise and cloud deployments
- Strict access control: Provides robust role-based access controls, secure logging, and full control over encryption keys for maximum flexibility and security.
Takeaway
Enterprises and government agencies cannot afford to use messaging platforms that lack robust encryption. These questions above help organizations evaluate the best encrypted messaging solution for security, compliance, and control.
With open-source encryption, self-hosted deployment, and enterprise-grade security, Rocket.Chat ensures highly secure, compliant, and controlled communication.
To learn more, request a demo today.
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