Many people do work from home on a full-time basis. Research has repeatedly shown that when employees work remotely, they remain more efficient due to fewer distractions and reduced commute time.
Although allowing employees to work remotely when needed increases flexibility for businesses, it also raises Cybersecurity risks.
Not only can remote workers disrupt their privacy, but operating remotely can also result in an organization-wide security breach.
Allowing certain employees to operate remotely temporarily was something that most businesses could manage until the last few months.
However, few organizations prepared to have a significant number of their employees work remotely simultaneously in the pandemic.
Many businesses previously lacked the infrastructure necessary to accommodate a large number of remote workers, and far fewer possessed the protection required to prevent confidential data from being revealed.
For the most part, their underlying hardware, software, and support systems configured to support only a small percentage of their employee population who work remotely.
Suppose a business is considering having a large number of workers to operate remotely. In that case, management should first consult with their IT department to determine if their corporate network and infrastructure can handle the load.
Along with ensuring that the company’s IT infrastructure can support many remote employees, management can determine if their organization has implemented any protection protocols for remote work.
It may include employee usage of personal devices for business purposes and remote access to company information systems.
Cybersecurity Tips for Remote Workers
Wi-Fi Connections
Nowadays, the majority of home Wi-Fi systems are somewhat stable.
When employees are away from home, they should be mindful that unsecured public Wi-Fi networks in restaurants and public spaces are ideal locations for malicious parties to monitor internet traffic and gather sensitive information.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Remote employees should use a VPN. Many are aware that using a VPN allows them to overcome regional limitations on streaming sites and other location-based content.
However, a VPN serves another critical function: it enhances online privacy.
A VPN can encrypt all of your internet activities, rendering them unreadable to third parties. Assure that workers use the VPN solely for work and remote access to company information systems.
Passwords
Now it is more relevant than before to safeguard all accounts with secure passwords.
Unfortunately, many users want to use the same password for numerous accounts. This ensures that a hacker can take over all of their accounts with a single compromised password.
When employees access company information systems and applications through personal devices, the “remember password” feature should always be disabled.
Home Routers
Many people do not change the password on their home router when it first installed, exposing their home network to attack.
Employees need to take simple precautions to secure their home network to prevent malicious parties from accessing connected devices.
An excellent place to start is changing the router’s password (it should be long and strong). Similarly, employees may be required to ensure that firmware upgrades are enabled to fix security vulnerabilities.
Two-factor Authentication
Having strong passwords is often insufficient, as when an employee’s credentials leaked due to a data breach.
Two-factor authentication and two-step verification also require an additional step to safeguard an employee’s accounts.
A confirmation email or text message, or a biometric system such as facial recognition or a fingerprint scan, may be used as the additional step.
Firewalls
Firewalls serve as a first line of protection, preventing threats from infiltrating the company’s network.
By blocking communication ports, they create a firewall between the employees’ devices and the internet.
This will assist in preventing the entry of malicious programs and data leakage from employee-owned computers. The operating systems of your employees’ devices usually include a firewall.
Backups
All critical files should back up regularly. In the worst-case scenario, workers might become infected with ransomware. Without a backup, everything will be lost.
Cloud storage is one of the most reliable and cost-effective ways to ensure sensitive files are backed up.
Encryption
When employees must transmit confidential information to co-workers, they should ensure that their computers are equipped with up-to-date encryption software.
If your business does not already have secure communication channels, you will need to innovate effectively. Numerous popular messaging services have end-to-end encryption as a standard feature or optional feature.
Antivirus Software
Make sure that the antivirus software is up to date. Although a firewall can be beneficial, threats will still find a way through.
Successful, advanced antivirus software will serve as a second line of defence by detecting and blocking known malware. Even if malware does gain access to an employee’s laptop, antivirus software can prevent it.
Phishing
Employees should get training to recognize and react to phishing attacks and other types of social engineering that include remote devices and remote access to organization information systems.
Employees should be aware of emails from unknown senders – especially those requesting them to click on a connection or open a file.
Also, emails sent by people they know but ordering odd items should be regarded with suspicion. When in doubt, instruct your employees to confirm via phone call.
Locking Devices
If employees are required to work in a public area, they must protect their device. Password-protecting their computer usually secures the contents before the password is entered. They should be required by a policy requiring them to do so.
Home Computers
Providing laptops for every employee can be prohibitively expensive, which is why many companies rely on workers using their personal computers when they are unexpectedly required to work from home.
This is one of the most significant risks of encouraging workers to work from home and should be avoided.
Personal computers do not have the same level of security or monitoring capabilities as work devices.
Their personal computers also lack the robust antivirus software, personalized firewalls, and automated online backup tools that business networks incorporate.
This increases the potential of malware infecting computers and stealing both personal and work-related data.
Mobile Devices
Many workers make work-related calls on their mobile. Consider Mobile Device Management (MDM) in these situations.
These solutions can assist in managing and securing mobile devices and apps by remotely encrypting data, scanning for malware, and wiping data on stolen devices.
Also, consider a mobile protection solution that can provide antivirus and endpoint detection and response capabilities for all of your mobile devices.
Conclusion
As remote work becomes more common, all businesses must provide the appropriate infrastructure and relevant security protocols, plans, and policies to reduce their exposure to Cybersecurity risks.
The above list should include an overview of your organization’s areas when developing Cybersecurity guidelines for remote work.
