Respect Workers and Their Data: How State and Local Labor Departments Use Virtru

State and local labor offices play a crucial role in protecting workers’ rights and ensuring workplace fairness. They collect sensitive data such as workers’ compensation claims, complaints, and violation reports — all of which must be protected. 

With such a vast volume of sensitive information that needs to flow between businesses, workers, and government organizations, tools like Virtru Secure Share and Virtru for Email are proving invaluable. In this post, we explore how these solutions help state and local government agencies protect constituent data while keeping vital operations in motion. 

Labor Department Communications Revolve Around Sensitive Data and PII

Labor departments receive sensitive worker information every day. Whether it’s a report on wage theft, unsafe conditions, or discrimination — or simply managing personally identifiable information (PII) as part of a broader effort — this data not only impacts the individuals directly involved, but also can be critical for investigations into violations of labor laws. Maintaining confidentiality and data integrity throughout the information collection and review process is paramount. This is where Virtru can provide all parties with increased confidence that relevant data is being handled securely. 

Virtru Secure Share Preserves Privacy and Confidentiality

State and Local governments use Virtru Secure Share to enable constituents to submit their sensitive information directly — including workers’ compensation details, complaints, or violation reports.

Here are some other benefits to using Secure Share for secure file exchange:

• Data Encryption and Access Control: Files uploaded to Virtru Secure Share are automatically encrypted, and users can choose the access controls they wish to apply. For example, they can set an expiration date, or add a watermark to the materials they share. They can also revoke access at any time they choose. 

• Data Ownership: Constituents maintain control over their data, deciding who can view, forward, or even revoke access after submission.  

• Centralized Collection of Forms and Paperwork: By gathering all sensitive info in one secure place, labor departments can streamline their review process without having to worry about fragmented data across multiple channels.

• Accessibility and Ease of Use: The solution is designed with a simple, intuitive user interface, making it simple to navigate even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Secure Email Workflows for Labor Complaints and Investigations

Not all sensitive exchanges happen through web portals. Often, labor departments need to communicate with external parties via email. Virtru for Email integrates with common email workflows, allowing secure, encrypted exchanges without interrupting daily operations.

Here are some of the benefits: 

• Platform-Agnostic: Virtru works seamlessly across various email platforms, including Gmail and Outlook, to deliver end-to-end encryption. External contacts don’t need to create an account or install any software: They just authenticate using their existing Google or Microsoft credentials. Unlike many other encryption providers, Virtru makes it simple for Google-centric offices to collaborate with Microsoft-centric offices, and vice versa. 
• Secure Collaboration: Labor department staff and external partners can communicate sensitive details without the risk of unauthorized access, because they maintain control of the files and emails in question. A clear data audit trail can also display whether data has or has not been accessed by the recipient, and you can also restrict forwarding and downloading.  
• An Invisible Safety Net: The Virtru Gateway provides a layer of server-side security that runs in the background to automatically detect and protect sensitive data before it leaves your organization. This gives IT leaders peace of mind and confidence that their domain is protected from accidental (or purposeful) data loss. 
• Continuity of Operations: By keeping security integrated with existing workflows and processes that teams already use every day, state and local labor departments can continue their important work without switching to outdated portals or complicated new tools.

Accessible and Inclusive Communication

One of the biggest hurdles in implementing new tech solutions for government agencies is accessibility. And with labor departments, it’s vital that the line of communication remains open over the course of an investigation or discovery period. This means making sure that files can be proactively shared with the department, and that secure files can be accessed easily by those with a need to know. 

Virtru products are platform-agnostic, ensuring that all stakeholders, be they internal staff or external constituents, can use these secure tools without barriers. Since external contacts don’t have to install additional software or create dedicated accounts, the learning curve is minimal, and support staff doesn’t need to spend any time resetting passwords for users. This seamless accessibility means that everyone from front-line workers to senior officials can communicate securely and effectively.

Protect Private Data with StateRAMP Authorized Encryption 

For labor departments, having a unified, secure system for collecting and reviewing sensitive information is a game-changer: It can build trust with constituents, businesses, and the broader community. 

With Virtru, constituents know that their sensitive information is protected by robust encryption measures. Virtru is StateRAMP Authorized, FedRAMP Authorized, and supports compliance with key regulations like CJIS, HIPAA, and state-level privacy regulations like CCPA. Meanwhile, staff members can rest assured that they are working within a system that values data security as much as they do. This secure environment fosters trust, encourages more timely and accurate information submissions, and ultimately leads to improved responses to worker complaints and compensation claims.

Want to see how Virtru can support secure information flows for your labor department? Contact us today for a demo.