When US companies consider building a remote team in Colombia or Mexico, security is often the first concern raised. Who has access to our codebase? What happens to our data? Who owns the IP?
These are legitimate questions and they deserve specific, detailed answers. Not reassurances.
At Cafeto Software, we’ve built a security model around one principle: the client owns everything. Their code, their data, their product. Cafeto’s job is to provide the people, the infrastructure, and the controls that make that ownership airtight.
This article explains exactly how that model works from hardware configuration to legal structure to data access controls.
Dedicated, security – configured hardware
Every Cafeto engineer works on a Cafeto-issued laptop. This is not optional and it is not negotiable.
Here’s why it matters:
- No personal devices. Personal computers can have unknown software, unlocked access points, and no corporate IT policy. Our IT team configures every Cafeto-issued laptop according to strict security standards before deployment
- Device management. Cafeto enrolls all company laptops in a mobile device management (MDM) system. We can remotely lock, wipe, or restrict access if a device is lost, stolen, or if an engagement ends.
- Screen recording and access controls. Clients can request additional endpoint security tools for sensitive environments
- No data exfiltration pathways. Cafeto restricts USB ports, personal cloud uploads, and personal email access when clients require it
This hardware layer is the first and most fundamental security control in our model.
Client controlled repositories, you own the code
All Cafeto engineers push their code directly to the client’s repository
We do not fork code into Cafeto systems. We do not retain copies of client code after an engagement ends. The client grants engineers access credentials
When an engagement ends:
- The client revokes all system access immediately
- The engineer’s Cafeto laptop is wiped and reconfigured
- No code, no credentials, no data remains accessible
This ensures that your IP is protected from day one through the last day of the engagement.
Legal protections: NDA, IP assignment and employment structure
Before any engineer ever sees a line of your code, they have signed
- An NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) —> binding under Colombian, Mexican, and US law
- An IP assignment clause — > confirming that all work produced belongs to the client
- An employment contract with Cafeto — > clearly outlining data handling obligations
Cafeto is legally incorporated in the United States (Houston, TX), Colombia (Cali), and Mexico (Guadalajara). This tri-country legal presence means our agreements are enforceable across jurisdictions, not just in theory, but in practice.
We work with US legal counsel to ensure our contract structures are aligned with what US clients need.
Backgorund checks verified people, not just verified skills
Every Cafeto engineer undergoes a comprehensive background check before placement:
- Criminal background screening (national and regional databases)
- Identity verification
- Employment history verification
- Education credential verification
We do not skip this step for any engagement, regardless of seniority or timeline urgency. You are giving this person access to your systems. Knowing who they are is not optional.
Access control and principle of least privilege
Cafeto engineers are given access only to what they need for their specific role, not blanket access to your entire tech stack.
This principle (known in cybersecurity as “least privilege”) limits exposure if any single account is ever compromised. We work with your IT team to:
- Define access tiers appropriate to each role
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all critical systems
- Audit and rotate credentials on a scheduled basis
- Document all access grants and revocations
For clients in regulated industries (healthcare, fintech, legal tech), we are experienced with HIPAA, SOC 2, and PCI DSS compliance requirements and can configure engagements accordingly.
Ongoing security posture, not just onboarding
Security isn’t a one-time checklist, it’s an ongoing posture. Cafeto monitors the security environment throughout every engagement:
- Regular security awareness training for all placed engineers
- Incident response protocol in place and communicated to clients
- Regular review of access levels as project scope changes
- Immediate offboarding protocol when an engagement ends
The real question isn’t whether working with remote talent is risky. It’s whether your partner has built the right controls to manage that risk.
At Cafeto, we’ve spent 12 years building a security model that gives US companies genuine confidence — not just reassurance. Our clients don’t wonder if their data is safe. They know it is, because the controls are documented, enforceable, and operational.
If you have specific security questions about how a nearshore engagement would work for your company, we’d love to walk through them with you.
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