Countering the 5 Top Myths Surrounding Virtual Assistants

We are at the end of our consideration of the top 5 reasons we’ve encountered for business owners to vie away from outsourcing excess operational tasks, to Virtual Assistants.

Be sure to read other of our other related blogs on this topic and many more that may prepare you for a positive journey into working with the right kind of remote business support.

A quick refresh of the top 5 myths:

Myth 1: Virtual Assistants are not as reliable as in-house staff – especially PAs

Myth 2: Virtual Assistants are just too expensive!

Myth 3: Virtual Assistants can only manage basic admin work

Myth 4: Virtual Assistants are only for the short term

Myth 5: My business is at risk when sharing data with a VA

This article breaks down the untruths regarding Myth 5: My business is at risk when sharing data with a VA.

Many business owners hesitate to work with virtual assistants because they believe that their data is at risk. They worry that a VA may not take data protection seriously, or that they may not have the necessary expertise to keep their data secure. These concerns are often largely unfounded. In fact, VAs are often more invested in protecting your data than you might think.

Here are some reasons why:

VAs use Password Protection Software for themselves and their clients.

One of the key ways that VAs protect your data is by using password protection software. This software ensures that all of your passwords are stored and shared securely and are not easily accessible to anyone outside of your specified operational support circle. VAs are trained to use this software and choose to utilise them within their own teams and for each and every client. In our personal experience, it is often the Virtual Assistants suggesting a more secure route for sharing login details than many of the clients who would happily compile and share a spreadsheet with every one of these listed for all the world to peruse!

VAs are insured

Another important consideration when working with a VA is their insurance coverage. Most VAs carry professional liability insurance, which means that they are covered in the event that they make a mistake that results in financial loss for your business. This insurance coverage provides an added layer of protection for your data, as it ensures that you are not left holding the bag if something goes wrong.

Your success is our success!

VAs are invested in protecting and growing your business. If you have worked with employees or freelancers that are only interested in a paid invoice at month end, we would highly suggest you read our blogs on choosing the right VA or better yet, give us a call!

When you work with a VA, you are not just hiring someone to perform a task, you are hiring someone to help you grow your business. VAs understand that the success of your business is directly tied to their own success, and they are highly motivated to do everything they can to help you succeed.

GDPR is everyone’s nightmare.

It’s also important to note that VAs are subject to GDPR regulations, just like any other business that handles personal data. This means that they are required to take steps to ensure that your data is protected and that they are transparent about how they use your data. VAs are often specifically trained and have thoroughly researched GDPR compliance and all its ‘ins and outs’ and ramifications.

VAs know the risks associated with sharing business information.

Finally, it’s important to remember that VAs are business owners themselves. We understand the risks associated with data protection and the extreme vulnerability created in sharing company data. We know that data breaches can be costly and damaging to a business and any VA worth their salt will have it sewn into the fabric of their contracts and business practices. This includes using secure file transfer protocols, encrypting sensitive data, and using two-factor authentication to protect against unauthorized access.

In conclusion, if you are concerned about what business data protection and practices your potential Virtual Assistant or Agency would be using – ASK! Ask the pertinent questions and expect comprehensive and confident responses. We would also encourage you to query anything you don’t understand when it comes to software or procedures you are unfamiliar with when dealing with freelance or remote support.

We would love to introduce you to the world of competent, dedicated virtual assistants! Feel free to get in touch, today, for a no obligation conversation.