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Best Cybersecurity Practices for Remote Workers
As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic spreads, an increasing number of workers are telecommuting from home – an emerging security risk both to individuals and employers alike.
There are a number of straightforward measures employees can take to protect themselves from remote work threats. This blog post will also explore some effective cybersecurity practices for remote workers to follow.
Set Up a Secure Home Network
Remote Workers using company-issued devices or their own home computers must establish and maintain a secure home network to safeguard both their own personal information as well as that of their employer’s data or devices. Doing this helps safeguard both their own information as well as any work-related devices they access remotely.
As part of their online security plan, users should update their router with a strong password that’s easy for cybercriminals to guess. They should also update passwords on other devices they use for work such as email accounts, instant messaging apps and Social Media profiles.
At home, using a VPN is also highly advised during this period of increased risks. A VPN creates a secure tunnel back to your company network so cybercriminals cannot intercept communications or data exchanged remotely between home networks during COVID-19 pandemic era remote work sessions. If you require help setting up or configuring one yourself, contact a cybersecurity specialist for advice or guidance.
We also recommend upgrading your home Wifi system to protect your home against cyber attacks but to also increase productivity, the Google Nest WiFi is has excellent security features and will allow you to work anywhere in your home with excellent performance.
Install a VPN
As more staff work from home during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s vital that their devices remain secure. Employees may connect via Wi-Fi networks at home or from their wireless provider’s Mi-Fi system; others might access public Wi-Fi networks like coffee shop Wi-Fi networks that leave devices exposed to hackers and data thieves.
Installing a virtual private network (VPN) can be one of the best ways to protect data when working from home. A VPN creates a tunnel between your device and the network, ensuring any information sent over is encrypted before being transmitted across it.
Employees should ensure their VPN is up to date and use multifactor authentication when accessing devices. They should also be mindful of common security threats such as phishing attacks which pose additional dangers when working from home as they are less likely to recognize an email that appears legitimate but contains malicious malware.
Lock Your Devices
Employees working from home must ensure their devices are both physically and digitally secure. Laptops and other work equipment can easily be stolen from homes, offices and yards alike – leaving confidential company data exposed if misplaced or mismanaged. When working from home employees must take extra measures to secure both physical and digital devices to keep work from becoming compromised.
To lower this risk, consider permitting remote workers to only use managed devices instead of personal ones. A managed device can be monitored by your IT team and set with specific security requirements more easily, and is easier for lost/stolen data wiping if it comes under company control. Furthermore, encourage your employees to utilize multifactor authentication to protect their identity and access limits – this is an effective way of limiting unauthorised users accessing sensitive company data; make sure all employees understand this policy!
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven immensely valuable to many organizations, yet with increased telework come new cyber risks that must be managed. Therefore, individuals and businesses should take precautionary steps when working from home in order to safeguard their information and avoid potential security breaches.
Remote workers should avoid public Wi-Fi networks as this allows cybercriminals to track your device as it connects to company secure networks. Furthermore, it is prudent to store devices securely while employing privacy screen protectors that darken at certain viewing angles.
These security measures can easily be integrated into a telework policy and discussed during employee onboarding and training sessions. Furthermore, CISOs should make sure remote work from home policies include instructions for setting up VPNs and creating secure home networks – these tips will help mitigate common cybersecurity threats associated with working from home.
