How an XCM platform keeps students, prospects, and their data safe

The safety of your students and their data is paramount.

Fortunately, with the right Experience Communication Management (XCM) platform, safety needn't be an issue.

With that in mind, we'd like to walk you through the top three security, compliance and safeguarding concerns and how our XCM platform resolves them.

1. Safeguarding and risk

While we all must follow basic internet safety protocols online, we also know that institutions such as yours don't want to hold your ambassadors back.

That's why we've built key security checks and balances into our platform. That way, you can give your ambassadors free reign without having to worry about their wellbeing.

We make a point of never sharing contact information (and encourage ambassadors to do the same, too). But we also implement key safeguarding features into our Chat feature, including:

• A chat safeguarding policy that covers all relevant legislation
• Keyword detection that blocks certain words, such as swear words and slurs, as well as custom phrases and requests for personal social media details
• Complete control over what email addresses and phone numbers can be shared - you can build a list of approved domains and numbers. Anything shared that isn't on that list will be blocked
• A flagging and reporting feature that both ambassadors and prospects can use

In addition to this, TAP anticipates the potential risks involved with ambassador-generated Content and FAQs by including an approval stage before anything is published.

That means, as an admin, you have complete editorial control over what you publish and can still build up a suite of amazing ambassador-generated content and FAQ answers, without giving your ambassadors access to post directly.

2. Child protection

Under the GDPR, the lowest age of consent for data processing is 13. The Ambassador Platform conforms to this legislation, but we don't just stop there.

While training ambassadors on how to use the platform, we make sure to remind them of their own institution's child protection policies. It's a key aspect of their role.

On top of this, we also bake child protection into our peer-to-peer and group Chat feature.

Ambassadors can report a conversation if it's uncomfortable for them, but they can also flag a conversation if they're concerned for a prospect's safety. If ever a conversation is flagged, your administrators are notified immediately and can resolve the situation according to their institution's own safeguarding policies.

3. Data security

Did you know that 54 percent of UK universities reported a data breach within the last year?

Keeping your student and prospect data secure is a top priority for TAP.

That's why we're compliant with UK and EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and by extension aim for compliance with international data privacy legislation including the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) and Canadian Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

In addition to this, we:

• Host all data in an ISO27001 certified environment
• Run data security training with all new staff on joining, and with all existing staff annually
• Conduct penetration testing at least annually
• Conduct internal security and process audits every six months
• Have passed the Cyber Essentials scheme with flying colors

We take care of data security and protection so that you can focus on your student recruitment, marketing and admissions efforts.

Stay safe without compromise

We get it. You want to keep your students and prospects safe, but you don't want to ruin the XCM experience altogether.

Thankfully, you've stumbled across the right XCM platform.

Hundreds of higher institutions across the globe trust The Ambassador Platform with protecting their students' data and wellbeing. We have the certificates, training and industry best practice to ensure your experience-led student recruitment efforts are safe, secure and fun for everyone.

Have any more questions? Please get in touch with our team.