With 2 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is the most used messaging platform in the world, present in 180 countries, covering Latin America, much of Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia.
For companies seeking international expansion, WhatsApp Business, with more than 18 million users, appears to be an attractive option. However, the platform safety raises concerns for enterprise risk teams regarding information security and compliance.
The risks behind WhatsApp Business
The biggest risks arise when the use of WhatsApp is unauthorized, as security and compliance teams do not have visibility into message exchanges within the application, thus, there is great exposure to risk and information leakage. Recently, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have imposed a joint fine of nearly $2 billion on 16 Wall Street banks and financial institutions. The reason was the inappropriate use of WhatsApp and other unauthorized communication channels, which violate record retention policies.
WhatsApp usage in Brazil
WhatsApp, with its global reach and user base, has become an essential tool for businesses wanting to connect with customers and employees. In Brazil, 96% of smartphone owners use WhatsApp as their main communication channel. These statistics demonstrate the power of WhatsApp as a business communication platform within the country and show its importance for:
• Consolidate connections with brands: WhatsApp allows companies to communicate directly with their customers, creating a closer and more personalized relationship.
• Interactions: The app offers a familiar and convenient experience for customers, who are already used to using the app in their personal lives.
• Boost: WhatsApp allows businesses to connect with customers around the world, expanding their market and opportunities.
It is important for corporations to take steps to ensure security and compliance when using the platform.
Although WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption to protect messages, there are still concerns about the platform’s safety and compliance, such as:
- 1. Lack of Visibility: Companies do not have full access of the messages sent and received by their employees through WhatsApp. This makes it difficult to check activities and detect inappropriate behavior or policy violations.
- 2. Scalable Analytics: WhatsApp does not offer robust data analytics tools for businesses. This limits the ability to follow communications performance and extract valuable insights.
- 3. Archiving Capabilities: WhatsApp does not have archiving capabilities suitable for businesses. This makes it difficult to retain communication records for audit and compliance purposes.
WhatsApp Security is the best option
One of the main challenges when using WhatsApp for commercial purposes lies in the absence of adequate archiving features. Many industries are subject to strict regulations on business communications, requiring companies to capture all content in its original format, regardless of any perceived risks. For certain companies, keeping complete records of communications is essential for investigative and auditing purposes. Lack of proper filing exposes companies to risks of non-compliance and violations of data retention policies, especially in highly regulated industries.
When strategically merged, WhatsApp can become a powerful tool that revolutionizes the dynamics of many teams and customer relationships. It’s time to reevaluate business communication and collaboration methods, transforming challenges into opportunities and boosting productivity in a business environment increasingly competitive. If you want to discover how tuvis can help your company use WhatsApp in a safe, productive and compliant way, click on this link and schedule a free demonstration.
