4 barriers to remote proctoring & how to overcome them

But accreditation providers tend to have concerns, many of which are entirely reasonable. In this article, we explore some of the most common worries for adopting remote proctoring, and offer some advice on how they can be overcome.

1. Internet drop-outs

Despite its colossal power and usefulness, the internet is still built on imperfect technology that fails from time to time. One example of this is when a user’s internet connection drops, and they’re left cursing their frozen screens.

This isn’t really a problem if you’re watching YouTube, but for organisations that hire qualified staff members whose credentials are required for compliance, it can be a big issue if it happens in the middle of an exam. Organisations like banks need proof that their staff are qualified for the jobs they’ve been hired to do, and if an auditor discovers a 5-minute frozen screen while watching their remotely-proctored exam, the organisation’s compliance is on the line; their very ability to operate as a business.

How do accreditation providers overcome this hurdle? By choosing a remote proctoring system that protects against drop-outs, and continues monitoring and recording during connectivity issues. With this guarantee in place, drop-outs are no longer a concern.

2. Works within I.T infrastructure

Most companies have unique I.T infrastructures that differ slightly in their set up. Operating systems like Windows and Mac, various hosting solutions like Amazon and Google, and ironclad firewalls can make it challenging to introduce new pieces of software – you run into tough compatibility issues, causing headaches and lost time for your I.T team. Not to mention the fact that many people work and live remotely, sometimes from countries whose IP addresses are more likely to be connected to fraud.

These are common concerns for accreditation providers who are considering remotely- proctored exams. To avoid the substantial cost of mismatched technology, and ensure that candidates can gain their accreditations from wherever they are in the world, they want a stable “plug and play” type system that just works. And thankfully, they exist.

3. Fast results

Some organisations need to deploy teams extremely quickly, and if the team members need new accreditation, the speed of getting qualified becomes crucial.

By standard, a remote proctoring system needs to deliver online exams quickly and without fuss. But in situations where accreditation is urgent, it also needs to automatically mark the tests (for applicable test types), compile the data into clear reports, and send them onto the providers who are handling the accreditations. For the system to be fit-for-purpose, this may need to happen as fast as 48 hours.

4. Data breaches

With data becoming an integral, prized part of our economies and societies, protecting it has become ever more important. Many Australian corporations have found themselves victims of data theft of late, and for new instances, they may have to pay fines of up $50 million.¹ For big organisations with compliance obligations, data breaches might even affect their ability to operate.

As with other forms of personal data, the sensitive information that is recorded and stored for remotely proctored exams needs to be protected just as vigorously. Depending on compliance levels, the system may require enterprise-level security that is SOC2 compliant, ensuring that accreditation providers and organisations are meeting their requirements.

References

1. The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, 2022, Parliament approves Government’s privacy penalty bill, Attorney-General’s portfolio