Work-from-Home Cybersecurity Tips for Your Remote Teams
Despite Covid-19, many businesses have been able to stay afloat as they embraced remote work; however, even with everything that’s going on in the world today, cybercriminals are still looking for ways to cause damage. Securing the technology of remote workers should be a top priority for any business owner.
Provide Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Setting clear expectations regarding cybersecurity—behavior and equipment-wise— should be the first thing to do. Talk to your team about cybersecurity best practices and guidance on what they should be doing if they ever fall victim to a cyber-attack or think they could be vulnerable to one. Clear communication protocols and crisis management is essential to keep your company’s information secure.
Don’t Neglect the Importance of an IT Personnel
Every business should have dedicated IT resources to support cybersecurity. You can have internal resources or outsource this service, but it is a necessity. If a security incident occurs, you will need professional assistance to help minimize the impact and restore your operation as quickly as possible.
Equip Your Team with the Tools They Need to Work Securely
There’s a wide array of things employees need to have to execute their tasks from home properly. Businesses that can afford it should provide their employees with company-issued laptops that are managed by the company. This way, you can prevent risks like using outdated software or hardware, using unencrypted devices, or installing potentially harmful software.
Also, tools like encrypted password managers and two-factor authentication systems help prevent undesired individuals from having access to your information.
Protect Sensitive Information
Give access to systems and information role-based to ensure people get the right level of access, depending on the needs of their role. Doing this helps ensure that specific individuals only manipulate sensitive data. Be sure that all sensitive information shared via email or other file transfer methods is encrypted. Avoid storing confidential information in free cloud storage services and choose encrypted cloud storage tools instead.
Beware of Phishing Attacks
Remind your remote teams to be alert to potential phishing attacks. They should be vigilant of emails that come from a dubious source, have typos in the body of the email, links to suspicious websites, and should never share their company credentials or system passwords via email, or ever.
Consider Setting Up a VPN
If you prefer to keep your systems on a more secure network, you might want to set up a VPN. A virtual private network is to use for remote access. It allows users to connect to company systems through a secure and encrypted network, rather than through a regular one that is more prone to attacks.
Work from the comfort of your home while keeping your information secure. Regardless of your experience on this topic, implementing these practices will help you protect your business and your most valuable asset: your data.
