Business travel involves much more than booking a flight or reserving a hotel room. In an environment full of risks — from cyberattacks and regulatory compliance to logistical disruptions — it’s essential to combine mobility with security. A well-managed Travel & Expense (T&E) strategy not only optimizes costs but also ensures the protection of employees and sensitive data.

At SD Global Consulting, we help companies structure their travel policies to ensure smooth and secure mobility. How can you create an efficient and risk-free travel framework? Which levers should you activate to balance optimization with protection? Let’s take a closer look.

Controlled mobility through a tailored travel policy

A clear travel policy is the first lever for securing business travel. It defines the rules around bookings, transportation modes, and approved vendors, while ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations.

A well-crafted policy allows you to:

• Control costs through spending limits and clear approval workflows.
• Reduce risks related to fraud and unjustified expenses.
• Improve traceability to meet compliance obligations.

At SD Global Consulting, we help companies implement tailored travel policies aligned with their needs and strategic priorities.

Data security at the heart of travel & expense

Digitalizing T&E brings efficiency and control, but also increases exposure to risk. Booking tools (SBT, HBT), expense management platforms, mobile apps, and third-party providers (airlines, hotels, car rentals, TMCs…) handle large volumes of sensitive data:

• Employee personal information (passports, bank details)
• Itineraries and booking details
• Financial and accounting data

Without strict governance, this data becomes vulnerable to cyberattacks and leaks. That’s why it’s critical to:

• Use travel and expense tools that are compliant with regulations (GDPR, PCI-DSS)
• Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices and data protection
• Implement strong access protocols (e.g., MFA, Single Sign-On)

Optimization should never come at the cost of security. SD Global Consulting helps companies bring together the right stakeholders and challenge existing tools with a holistic performance-driven approach.

Vendor management: A key element for secure travel

Choosing the right travel providers is critical for managing risk.

By supporting companies in supplier selection and contract negotiation, SD Global Consulting ensures each business trip occurs within a secure and well-managed framework.

Securing expense management to prevent abuse and fraud

Expense management plays a major role in financial security. Vague or overly flexible processes open the door to abuse, reporting errors, and even internal fraud.

To ensure a transparent and controlled expense system, it’s recommended to:

• Deploy automated tools with systematic expense validation
• Include clear rules in the travel policy regarding reimbursements and spending limits
• Analyze expense data to detect anomalies and unusual behavior

With a data-driven approach and the right tools, SD Global Consulting helps businesses build a strong expense management system while enhancing financial security.

Security & support : Rapid response in case of emergencies

Business trips always carry the risk of unforeseen events — flight cancellations, medical emergencies, security incidents… Having a robust assistance plan in place is critical to protecting mobile employees.

A well-structured travel management policy should include:

• Easy access to emergency contacts and 24/7 support services
• Clear protocols for handling risk situations (evacuation, health crises, strikes)
• Centralized travel information for real-time tracking

Specialized providers (ISOS, SSF, Garda, etc.) are available to take over in times of crisis. These providers typically work with corporate security departments in coordination with authorities.

SD Global Consulting can act as a strategic advisor during contract negotiations with such providers, working alongside procurement and security teams to ensure the support services align with your company’s mobility needs and risk profile.

Want to strengthen your business travel security while optimizing costs? Let’s talk. Business travel security isn’t just about having a travel policy — it’s a combination of tools, processes, partners, and governance. At SD Global Consulting, we bring a holistic T&E perspective to the table.

You can reach us via the contact form on our website.
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If you found this article helpful, check out other key topics for your business on our blog, such as:

• Travel & Expense: The Reasons to Call on an Expert
• Business Travel: 5 Reasons to Entrust It to an Expert
• The Impact of AI and Automation on Corporate Travel Management Consulting