Remote workers and remote work have become considerably more common in the aftermath of the pandemic. Even after the pandemic has passed, many experts believe that remote working will continue to be popular in a variety of industries.

While working from home offers numerous advantages, it also exposes individuals and enterprises to a variety of cybersecurity dangers. As a result, it is critical to give home cybersecurity serious consideration. Most cybersecurity work-from-home threats can be readily mitigated by adopting best practices.

Unfortunately, remote working and cybersecurity concerns are inextricably linked. Cyber risks to individuals and organisations continue to loom big as the COVID-19 outbreak appears to be far from ending. Investing in powerful technology solutions that safeguard your network, as well as training staff in cybersecurity so that they create healthy remote working practices, is now the only solution.

If you enable a large number of your workers to work from home, you must follow a few simple guidelines to secure your devices and your network from cybercriminals.

Updates should not be postponed

If you receive a notification that a software update is available for any of your devices, make sure to install it as soon as possible. Updates to software (including antivirus products) correct security holes and help protect your data.

It’s critical to pay attention to notifications for operating software upgrades and changes that influence your apps on your smartphone, especially if you use the same phone to manage your business and personal lives.

At home, use antivirus and internet security software

Investing in a comprehensive antivirus package for you and your staff is vital for remote work security. The global cost of cybercrime to organizations exceeds $1.5 billion annually. Hackers target sensitive files through home internet networks and company VPNs, leaving you, your company, and your employees vulnerable to ransomware, DDoS attacks, malware, spyware, and other breaches.

Select Secure Passwords

Passwords protect your gadgets and sensitive information against illegal access. You greatly boost security levels by creating a strong, unique password. You make it more difficult for thieves to obtain access to your systems networks and disrupt them.

Turning off the VPN is not a good idea

You might be using a VPN, or virtual private network, to connect to your employer’s network. A VPN encrypts data to protect information exchanged between employers and employees, aiming to prevent cybercriminals and spies from stealing sensitive data like financial documents and consumer information.

If one of your devices has a VPN, don’t turn it off while you’re working. Otherwise, you’ll lose a tool that could stop someone from stealing your confidential information. Also, unless you’ve joined your employer’s VPN, avoid using public Wi-Fi networks when accessing work-related accounts.

Make use of a centralised storage system

Ensure all employees utilize cloud or server storage. If unsure, contact them to confirm awareness. Backing up data is vital, especially in case of a hack or data loss. This also enhances document safety through the centralized storage system’s firewall.

Multi-factor authentication is an option to consider

Multi-factor authentication secures an online account (such as your bank account), an electronic device, or a computer network. However, according to the Ponemon Institute and Keeper Security research, 31% of IT experts surveyed said their companies didn’t require remote workers to use any authentication methods at all. Only 35% of IT experts believed multi-factor authentication was required in the 69 per cent of firms that did need those techniques.

Separate your electronic devices

Assume you use your tablet to watch Netflix episodes, your home laptop to pay bills, and your employer’s laptop to work. If that’s the case, maintain it that way. When you undertake work duties on your home laptop, for example, you may be putting crucial business data at risk if your laptop isn’t secure enough.

Furthermore, you should not allow family or friends to use your company-issued gadgets.

Ensure Data Confidentiality by Encrypting the Data

Encrypting data at your remote workspace is crucial to prevent it from being readable by unauthorized parties. This technique scrambles the text, making it unreadable to hackers, and can only be decoded by the designated recipient with the decryption key. Implementing an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate on a website provides significant security benefits.

Ensure that firewalls and other security measures are installed on all devices used by your remote workers for work

Your company may struggle to afford to protect numerous new devices added to its network. While free antivirus and firewall protection may not be optimal, they are still preferable to having no protection at all. The Antivirus Software Guide has compiled a list of the top 10 free antivirus platforms for 2020. For Windows 10 users, Microsoft offers Windows Security, a free antivirus program.

The effectiveness of any antivirus program depends on the patches and updates installed by your workers. Remind them regularly of the importance of updating as soon as possible.

Restriction of File Access

All of your files and programmes do not need to be accessible to all of your employees. Protect your network by defining roles and responsibilities, and then linking them to the programs and data required to complete job tasks. If a hacker succeeds in entering one employee’s account, the amount of damage they may do is limited if they are denied access to all of the organization’s files and apps.

 

To know more about protecting your company, read: Protect your company against cyber threats