Key Learnings from The Conversation
“The Conversation” is set on a train but the reality is that we have conversations with work colleagues in various settings – out for lunch in restaurants, at meetings in supplier premises, out on construction sites etc..
This scenario is not unique to our company. From the film, you can see that a seemingly innocent conversation can have catastrophic consequences, both personally and professionally. There are a number of lessons for all of us in this film.
Always be aware of your surroundings and be careful what you discuss in public places where you could be observed or overheard.
Use booking reference not your name when travelling on the train for business. Never under-estimate the power of social engineering.
Ensure that all documents and screens of electronic devices are not visible to others when in public places.
Always use the company secure login when accessing our network in public places. Public wifi is not secure and is easily hacked.
Always use strong passwords on your devices to protect both personal and company information. A strong password is at least 8 characters long and contains a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.
Be mindful of appearances when accepting gifts from business partners/suppliers. It is never appropriate to accept gifts or entertainment if there is an ongoing or upcoming bid in progress (potential Conflicts of Interest).
Always be careful when opening attachments or clicking links in email. If in doubt, send an email to the Helpdesk with the suspicious email attached and ask IT Security to verify that it is safe before you proceed.
Always follow company procedures for payments, no matter what the rush or where the management approval comes from.
Would you leave your wallet and your personal diary lying around in a public place? Talking about company business and not taking due care with company assets and documents in public is basically the same thing.
You never know who is watching and listening