WhatsApp is more secure than email.
Yes, you read that right.
Security is nuanced, and ensuring secure communication when handling personal customer information is more critical and complex than ever. As businesses increasingly rely on digital channels for customer interactions, the security of these exchanges becomes a critical concern.
While email has long been the standard for business communication, it’s time to reconsider its security compared to modern messaging apps like WhatsApp.
Why WhatsApp outshines email in security
It might sound surprising, given how embedded email is in our daily business transactions, but WhatsApp actually offers superior security. The difference lies in how each platform handles user data.
The vulnerabilities of email
Email, despite its ubiquity, faces security weaknesses.
Think about it. If a customer uses their personal email (Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft, etc.) to send sensitive information to a business's on-premise email servers, the company providing the email service—whether Google or Microsoft—now has access to all the data exchanged, including any sensitive information.
This means individuals’ personal and business communications are potentially accessible to these service providers, creating a significant security risk.
The strengths of WhatsApp
In contrast, WhatsApp employs end-to-end encryption for all messages, ensuring that only the communicating users can read the messages.
Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, does not have access to these messages. Data is stored in an encrypted form on their servers only until it is delivered, after which it is deleted.
However, many companies distrust Meta due to its history with data privacy. This is where Hubtype's webviews come into play, ensuring that Meta never has access to sensitive data since it does not go through their servers. This level of encryption and data handling makes WhatsApp inherently more secure than traditional channels, such as email.
Addressing GDPR compliance concerns
One of the major concerns businesses have about using messaging apps like WhatsApp is compliance with regulations such as GDPR. It's crucial to understand that WhatsApp, when used correctly, can be fully GDPR compliant.
Using an Official Solution Provider for WhatsApp offers an additional layer of security. To ensure compliance, verify that your provider is listed as an official partner by WhatsApp.
Hubtype specialises in integrating WhatsApp and other messaging channels into business communications in a way that not only meets but exceeds GDPR requirements.
The role of conversational apps and webviews
To further solidify security, Hubtype utilises webviews. These are essentially mini-websites that allow users to stay within WhatsApp while interacting with secure, graphical interfaces for tasks like filling out forms or completing transactions.
Webviews ensure that sensitive data collected via WhatsApp is never stored within the app itself.
Sure, you can't share payment information directly within WhatsApp, but what if you could embed a mini-website, or webview, directly into a WhatsApp chat
This would allow the exchange to take place seamlessly, without the customer feeling redirected to another website or app.
The critical point here is that webviews not only create functions that don’t exist within WhatsApp but also ensure that sensitive data collected via webviews is not stored within WhatsApp. Instead, the data is processed through secure servers outside Meta's infrastructure that comply with GDPR and other regulatory standards.
This means WhatsApp itself never has access to sensitive information, adding an extra layer of security.
Secure messaging in action
Consider the example of an insurance company using Hubtype to handle customer transactions via WhatsApp.
By integrating conversational apps within WhatsApp, the company can securely collect information, process transactions, and provide customer support—all without compromising security or regulatory compliance. This setup not only improves security but also streamlines operations and boosts customer satisfaction.
Why businesses need to reevaluate their communication channels
The shift from email to messaging apps like WhatsApp is more than just a trend. By leveraging the inherent security features of WhatsApp and enhancing them with tools like Hubtype's webviews, businesses can ensure that their communications are both secure and compliant.
Embracing WhatsApp for business communication offers numerous advantages beyond security. It aligns with modern consumer preferences for instant, convenient interactions and can significantly improve customer engagement and satisfaction.
WhatsApp alone has over 3 billion monthly users. It’s time to be where your customers like to chat.
Embrace the Future with Confidence
The concerns businesses have about switching to new communication channels are understandable. But the evidence is clear: WhatsApp, when used with the right tools and approaches, offers a level of security that surpasses traditional channels, such as email.
By adopting WhatsApp and integrating it with Hubtype's secure solutions, businesses can improve their communication, ensure compliance, and ultimately, provide a better experience for their customers.
Don’t let outdated perceptions hold you back. Embrace the future of secure communication with Hubtype and WhatsApp. Your business and your customers will thank you.
