Rallyware

Large numbers of independent contractors exacerbate security risks

By David Rauf

“In the case of direct selling, the change has to start with the company providing continuous education to the field and explaining what the risks are, while also promoting the tools and making them available to distributors.”
— Mykhaylo Kostandov, chief technology officer, Rallyware

“Sales reps need to have access to customer data, and that increases the risk. You just have more hands in the cookie jar.”

— Erik Bodor, President, GSATI

In mid-March, security researchers found that dozens of companies were using a cloud-based file hosting and sharing system called Box that was exposing internal files and documents, including sensitive corporate and customer data.

Among them: direct selling giant Herbalife. The Los Angeles-based nutritional supplement provider had left the data inadvertently exposed. The culprit: simple human error.