Let’s face it, remote work isn’t going anywhere in the years to come. People are already accustomed to the setup of working in the comfort of their homes. Most of us are now conducting our businesses online, exchanging data, uploading and downloading documents, and more. The question is: Is our technology secure in this type of setup?
While the majority of employees are accustomed to working in offices with professionally designed IT systems, there are many variations in home internet configurations. Another household might have a virtual private network (VPN) subscription in place to hide their internet activity from prying eyes, whereas one household might have a straightforward solution that works for their family.
Here’s a piece of gathered advice from experts on how to secure your digital workspace to help you lower the security risks you might be facing while working from home.
FOR INDIVIDUAL REMOTE WORKERS
Tip #1: Update the Security of Your Network
Maintaining the most recent security patches and upgrades on all of your devices can significantly improve the security of your data. Since they are typically your first and last line of defense against external threats, you should quickly strengthen and defend items like your operating system, antivirus and antimalware software, and your router.
Tip #2: Never Open Phishing Emails
These emails frequently appear to be business offers, excellent deals, or even essential communications from your boss, but they all contain a link that demands your click. THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK: If you dont know who sent the link, DO NOT click it. Usually, clicking on those URLs will prompt you to complete a necessary download that will infect your computer with malware, immediately putting it at risk. Avoid giving out any personal information and be on the watch for strange email addresses, poor grammar, or generic greetings that don’t fit the sender’s personality.
Tip #3: Enable Multifactor Authentication
Passwords can easily be broken. While following good password conventions is a fantastic beginning step, two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security because it calls for more than just typing in a password.
FOR COMPANIES
Tip #1: Set Up Remote Access
Companies should take all reasonable steps to create remote access protocols. However, because you’ll probably need to access the onsite devices to give multifactor authentication tokens, this could be extremely challenging to do.
Tip #2: Encourage Discretion
Employees should be reminded that even if they work from home, they are still required to act professionally when handling secure and sensitive information. This involves reminding individuals that they shouldn’t use their personal email for business purposes and that they should either shred any physical documents they keep at home immediately or lay them aside to be shredded later.
Tip #3: Keep Emergency Contacts Updated
Having a backup method of communication with your staff is essential if you are unable to email them, whether it be due to a major power outage or because your organization has been the subject of a cyberattack. This can be accomplished as easily as generating a list of phone numbers or setting up a safe method of messaging senior staff that avoids any digital intrusion.
Working from home has been the best choice for most people this days because of its perks. You get to avoid the stress of commuting and you get to see your family more often. Just follow these tips and you are good to go in having a secure workspace at home.
Subscribe to our Newsletter for more tips!
