My Employee is Going to a High-Risk Country. Now What?

You just received the email: your key team member needs to travel to China next month for an important client meeting. Your stomach drops. As a CISO or security leader, few scenarios create more immediate risk than an employee traveling to a country known for aggressive cyber espionage and surveillance.

This isn’t theoretical. In countries like China and Russia, authorities routinely inspect travelers’ devices and may legally compel password disclosure. Your employee’s laptop could become a gateway to your entire network, and the intellectual property they access could be compromised with devastating consequences.

“At present we ban embargoed countries + China and Hong Kong,” reports one CISO on a recent forum discussion, while another states bluntly: “All cloud is US only. Hardware doesn’t leave the US or Canada.” Some organizations take immediate, defensive action: “If we detect an authentication from an embargoed country, we immediately disable the user account.”

These reactive approaches address symptoms, not the underlying challenge: sometimes, legitimate business reasons require travel to high-risk locations. What’s needed isn’t a blanket ban, but a structured security protocol that balances business needs with robust protection.

Let’s break down exactly what to do when that travel request lands in your inbox.

Phase 1: Pre-Travel Protocol

Step 1: Conduct a Formal Risk Assessment

Before approving any travel, establish whether the destination truly qualifies as “high-risk.” This isn’t about gut feeling but objective criteria:

Check if the country appears on the OFAC list of sanctioned nations
Review the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories (China, for example, is currently under a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory)
Consider hardware export restrictions that might apply to company devices
Evaluate whether the trip has legitimate business justification that outweighs the risks

Document this assessment as part of your international travel request process, which should require business case approval before security planning begins.

Step 2: Implement the “Clean Device” Strategy

The cornerstone of your protection strategy should be providing a sanitized device specifically for travel:

“We provide the user with a Chromebook for the duration of their travel,” explains one security professional. Another recommends: “They get a spare laptop with only what they need, ideally not joined to the domain. It gets wiped when they come back.”

Key considerations for export compliant devices:

Provide a Chromebook for travel or dedicated burner laptop containing only essential applications
Ensure the device is not joined to your corporate domain
Remove any stored credentials, certificates, or VPN configurations that could be compromised
Verify the device meets any hardware export restrictions for the destination country
Consider restricting the device to cloud access only with no local data storage

Step 3: Secure Accounts & Limit Access

For the duration of the trip, implement strict account management procedures:

Temporarily restrict the employee’s access to only what’s absolutely necessary for the trip
Create user account exceptions in your security systems to handle this special case
Enforce password changes before departure for any accounts that will be accessed during travel
Enable additional multi-factor authentication (MFA) requirements
Implement geographic restrictions that block access from problematic countries except for this specific user
Set alerts for any access attempts from embargoed countries outside approved parameters

“For our company, people working in risky countries can only access the basic business apps and have limited connectivity with the rest of the company,” notes one security operations manager.

Step 4: Conduct a Mandatory Security Briefing

Don’t assume your employee understands the risks. Schedule a formal security briefing that covers:

Local threat landscape in the destination country
Risks of automatic attacks and surveillance
Physical security protocols for the device (never leave it unattended)
Guidelines for using public Wi-Fi (ideally, don’t)
Instructions to power down all devices completely before approaching customs
Communication protocols and emergency contacts
How to respond if authorities demand device access or passwords

One CISO emphasizes: “During travel, countries can and will compel you to hand over passwords or decrypt the drive.” Prepare your employee for this reality.

Step 5: Ensure Proper Insurance & Support

Business travel to high-risk countries requires specialized protection beyond standard corporate insurance:

Verify coverage extends to the specific high-risk destination
Ensure your policy includes evacuation coverage for political unrest or medical emergencies
Consider specialized providers like Global Rescue or High Risk Voyager for comprehensive coverage
Establish a 24/7 support channel for security emergencies during the trip

“If you travel for work, generally it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure you’re properly insured,” reminds one forum contributor discussing high-risk travel insurance.

Phase 2: During Travel (Maintaining Security)

Once your employee is in-country, certain protocols must be strictly followed to maintain data security:

Connectivity Discipline

All connections to corporate resources must route through your company-approved VPN
Use an IKEv2 VPN or similar robust protocol for enhanced security
Disable auto-connect features on devices to prevent joining malicious networks
Assume all networks (even hotel Wi-Fi) are compromised and under surveillance

Physical Security Awareness

The device should remain in the employee’s physical possession whenever possible
Avoid using the device in public spaces where shoulder-surfing is possible
Be aware that hotel rooms may be searched while the employee is out
Consider privacy screens to prevent visual data theft

Communication Protocol

Establish regular check-in times with your security team
Use end-to-end encrypted messaging for sensitive communications
Implement a dead-drop system for sharing non-urgent information
Require immediate reporting of any security incidents, no matter how minor they seem

Phase 3: Post-Travel Debrief (Decontamination)

The security process isn’t complete when your employee returns. In fact, some of the most critical security measures happen after the trip.

Step 1: Device Confiscation and Analysis

“It gets wiped when they come back,” states one IT admin about their travel laptop protocol. This isn’t excessive—it’s necessary.

Collect the travel device immediately upon the employee’s return
Do not connect it to your corporate network under any circumstances
Place it in a secure disposal bin or designated quarantine area
Have your security operations team perform forensic analysis if warranted
Completely wipe and re-image the device before it’s used again

Treat every device that’s been to a high-risk country as potentially compromised, regardless of whether suspicious activity was detected.

Step 2: Credential Reset

Reset all digital access immediately:

Force password changes for any account accessed during travel
Rotate API keys that may have been used
Reset multi-factor authentication credentials
Restore normal access privileges that were restricted during travel

This credential rotation should happen before the employee resumes normal work activities.

Step 3: Intelligence Gathering Debrief

Schedule a formal debrief conversation to gather valuable intelligence:

Were there any unusual interactions with officials or other travelers?
Did the employee notice signs of surveillance or tampering with their devices?
Were they asked to surrender passwords or unlock devices at any point?
Were there suspicious network behaviors or unexpected device performance issues?

This information helps refine your security protocols for future travelers and may reveal previously unknown threats.

Building Your Travel Security Program

Rather than handling high-risk travel on a case-by-case basis, develop a formal travel security program that:

Creates clear policies regarding which countries require enhanced security measures
Establishes a streamlined approval process for international travel requests
Maintains a pool of dedicated travel devices that are properly secured
Develops standard operating procedures for each phase of high-risk travel
Regularly reviews and updates protocols based on evolving threats

As the CSO Online notes, “Every company needs a travel security program” because the risks of compromised data far outweigh the administrative burden of implementing one.

Conclusion

When an employee must travel to a high-risk country, your organization faces a significant but manageable security challenge. By implementing a structured approach that addresses pre-travel preparation, during-travel protocols, and post-travel decontamination, you transform a potential security nightmare into a controlled risk.

Remember that these measures protect not only your corporate data but also your employee. Countries with aggressive cyber policies may target business travelers specifically, putting both your intellectual property and your people at risk.

The key is preparation. Don’t wait until an urgent travel request lands on your desk—develop your high-risk travel protocol now, using the framework above as your guide. When implemented properly, these measures allow your business to operate globally while keeping your most valuable assets—your data and your people—secure.