7 reasons to use out-of-band communication for safe and reliable messaging

Did you know end users reported 1.9 million unique cyber threats in 2023, leading to business interruption and revenue loss? Due to this rise in cyber-crimes, many leaders have adopted OOB or out-of-band communication.

This communication method occurs outside an organization's primary network, facilitating secure communication and collaboration when main channels are unavailable or compromised.

Many modern and secure collaboration tools make this possible, eliminating compromised or unavailable data. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why enterprises should use out-of-band communication to minimize security risks.

What is out-of-band communication?

In-band channels can be compromised when security breaches occur, leading to data loss and significant financial repercussions.

However, CISA notes that out-of-band communication can be a perfect solution as it sustains collaboration on an external network, promoting organizational security and integrity.

For instance,

In March 2022, The hacker group Lapsus$ targeted high-profile organizations like Microsoft and Nvidia. Thankfully, the organizations employed OOB mechanisms, allowing incident response professionals to coordinate effectively.

This kept the operational security intact and helped them monitor the threats.

Moreover, this necessity surged alongside the rise of complicated cyber threats. Examples include ransomware, social engineering, phishing, and more.

For instance, phishing attacks surged 58.2% in 2023, and ransomware surged 300% in 2024.

This alarming data underscores how important out-of-band communication truly is, as it can safeguard organizational data and maintain operational continuity during such cyberattacks.

7 reasons why out-of-band communication is essential for security

The OOB communication network is growing steadily, and the industry will reach USD 6.6 billion by 2032. The 19.69% CAGR between 2024 and 2032 can be attributed to this growth.

Here are the reasons why OOB communication has become vital:

1. Enhanced protection

Minimization of risk interception and cyber-attacks will be the cornerstone of organizational security. Out-of-band communication makes this possible by:

Enhancing threat protection by operating independently of primary networks.
Ensuring the continuation of secure messaging when main channels are compromised.
Lowering vulnerability to cyber threats by minimizing unauthorized access to confidential networks.

With OOB, you’re reducing the attack surface that might otherwise be available to malicious actors. This network takes care of infrastructure management and provides befitting incident responses to create failover solutions.

2. Secure communication during incidents

Industry leaders highlight the need for frameworks for effective corporate communication during or after cyber incidents. The most secure messaging apps, like Rocket.Chat, can give your team access to a dedicated and isolated communication channel for secure collaboration.

This is crucial during security incidents because:

It separates the main network to allow seamless communication during a security breach. This helps teams securely exchange sensitive data amidst network breaches.
Organizations can also coordinate response strategies on the external OOB network. It allows your company to recover from and respond to cyber incidents and protect sensitive data.

3. Incident response capabilities

According to IBM, incident response is an organization’s use of technology and process development to respond to and detect cyber threats. OOB communication can enhance this by allowing confidential collaboration on a secure network.

When communicating on a secure channel, you can:

Quickly coordinate for seamless workplace team communication during cyberattacks.
Create a response plan by sharing vital information and strategies without having the fear of interception.

As a result, your team can respond to threats more effectively, ensuring secure and prompt critical decision-making.

The out-of-band communication network streamlines incident response during a crisis to help mitigate damage, bolster cybersecurity threats, and restore operations.

4. Business continuity

As a response to the pandemic, PwC notes that 67% of organizations brainstormed a business continuity plan. The same is necessary in a world where network breaches and cyber threats are evolving.

Thankfully, OOB communication can maintain business continuity by:

Helping to keep collaboration intact on an external network.
Providing a reliable fallback communication method for the entire team.
Allowing the continuation of essential functions through minimized downtime.

All in all, OOB communication ensures no network disruptions for business operations. Teams can also stay connected and well-informed during a cyber crisis to navigate the response plans smoothly.

5. Regulatory compliance

Many out-of-band communication networks meet emerging and existing cybersecurity regulations. Nothing demonstrates organizational resilience more than using encrypted messaging apps for communication that follows regulatory compliance.

To give an example, Rocket.Chat is ISO 27001 certified, SOC 2 compliant, and also achieves BITV 2.0 & WCAG compliance. The platform focuses on data privacy the most through end-to-end encryption, message audit panels, multi-factor authentication, and more.

Many platforms are also built considering the EU’s NIS2 Directive, mandating robust security tactics for critical infrastructures. With this, your organization can be more resilient to cyber threats and maintain operational integrity during primary network data breaches.

OOB systems can provide mandated emergency team communication strategies. This way, your team can strengthen shareholder trust and become confident in your enterprise’s security posture.

6. Advanced security features

Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that a ransomware attack may occur every two seconds on businesses, consumers, and governments by 2031. That’s why you’ll need an external network that incorporates advanced security features to enhance data protection.

In this case, out-of-band communication systems support the following:

Two/multi-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security. The network will require multiple forms of verification before granting users access.
End-to-end encryption ensures the messages remain confidential and only intended recipients can access them.
Robust access control helps regulate permissions about who can receive and send information on the external network.

7. Flexible management during crisis

A survey by Capterra found that 28% of all crisis events can be attributed to cyberattacks. Moreover, 98% of business leaders activated crisis communication plans. But are those plans flexible enough to handle the unexpected?

Out-of-band communication helps create a flexible crisis management plan. Here’s how:

Supporting multiple communication modes. (video, voice, and text).
Quickly integrating external experts to facilitate expertise over complex security challenges.
Facilitating seamless collaboration during a crisis between internal and external team members.

7 features that make Rocket.Chat a smart choice for out-of-band communication

This open-source software ranks 17th in the Top 100K sites for the Live Chat category. Due to the unique features available, it has become an effective tool to enhance security and resilience during challenging situations.

This platform will be a superb choice for out-of-band communication because of the following features:

1. Fortify communication with unparalleled security

Rocket.Chat comes with robust security measures that protect sensitive information. They include the following:

End-to-end encryption for confidentiality
Two-factor authentication to eradicate unauthorized access
Comprehensive data loss prevention to safeguard against potential breaches

2. Master multi-channel communication strategies

Industry leaders believe that multi-channel or omnichannel communication will be the future of organizational collaboration.

Rocket.Chat supports communication through channels such as SMS, email, web chat, and video calls. This allows your organization to:

Reach your team members, clients, and audience through preferred communication channels during a security breach.
Ensure that messages are delivered effectively and promptly to enhance responsiveness and engagement.

3. Customize without limits

Rocket.Chat is an open-source collaboration software that ensures data confidentiality and integrity. You can customize this modern tool without any limits. This enables businesses to tailor functionalities and features based on your workflow and needs.

4. Achieve compliance with confidence

As mentioned earlier, this out-of-band communication network meets stringent regulatory standards that are vital for handling sensitive data. It comes with:

Built-in compliance features to mitigate legal risks after a cyberattack
Adherence to GDPR, HIPAA, and FINRA
Flexible deployment in cloud, air-gapped networks, or on-premise

5. Scale securely with microservices

The microservices architecture that Rocket.Chat uses allow you to scale your organization securely as the business grows. With this, you can:

Enable different components to operate independently in your communication system.
Facilitate easier updates and maintenance without disruption in operational functionality.
Enhance performance and resilience, along with the implementation of security measures across all services.

6. Empower secure collaboration

The platform out-of-band communication network comes with the following features for secure collaboration:

Auditable communication
Advanced access controls
Role-based permissions
Comprehensive conversation tracking

7. Future-proof your communication

Rocket.Chat has over 15 million users spread across 150 countries.

For example, KingHost reduced its email volume by 70% and increased efficiency by using this platform. Similarly, CCDCOE relies heavily on Rocket.Chat to enhance cyber resilience among NATO nations.

Choosing this out-of-band communication tool means:

Organizational security enhancement
Regular third-party audits
Protection of sensitive data
Innovation and collaboration

The bottom line

Due to the increase in cyber threats, out-of-band communication has become a necessity for organizational collaboration. It’s essential for reliable communication on a secured network and enhanced threat protection.

Rocket.Chat’s OOB communication system is secure and flexible enough to support your business’s cybersecurity strategies. It comes with end-to-end encryption, unparalleled communication security through multi-factor authentication, and more.

To learn more, contact Rocket.Chat today!