With open arms, many companies have welcomed the era of remote work thanks to its benefits. A switch brought about by the pandemic, remote work became a preference of many employees. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of working at home and skipping the long hours of commute? Others have even sojourned around the world while keeping their remote work setup. Plus, there are lots of environmental benefits that come with it. What’s not to love?
Of course, everything good can come with a steep price – and remote work is no exception to that. What some companies fear in this setup is security. For example, it’s possible that an employee loses their work laptop, which can potentially expose confidential company documents. That’s just one of the many issues that can arise with remote work.
However, all hope is not lost. There are many strategies a company can employ to ensure cybersecurity while reaping the benefits of remote work. In this article, we’ll talk about the best cybersecurity practices for remote workers to keep them safe. But first, we’ll explore the risks involved with remote work.
Understanding the Risks of Remote Work
Remote work allows flexibility in one’s schedule, together with improving their work-life balance. But, it’s worth noting that these benefits also come with risks. If you want to stay secure, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks associated with this setup.
Threats to Personal Devices
Not all companies provide their employees with work laptops – sometimes, employees are left with no choice but to use their personal devices. While it’s convenient, we can’t ignore the security threats of using personal devices. For example, a laptop for personal use may not have the necessary security measures, such as stringent antivirus programs, to combat viruses. Or, a personal laptop may be outdated – rendering it vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
Inadequate Network Security
When working remotely, it’s inevitable for employees to connect to public WiFi networks. However, this poses a huge risk to remote workers – exposing their devices to all kinds of threats.
An attacker may create a rogue hotspot that poses as a wireless network of a legitimate establishment to steal your data. These attackers intercept data between a public network and a device, leading to the potential theft of sensitive information. More often than not, these public networks also lack encryption – which makes data theft a lot easier.
The Importance of Secure Practices
There are various reasons why one must take the necessary measures for cybersecurity. Here’s why:
Compliance With Regulations
Depending on your location or your industry, there are different regulations that you must comply with when it comes to securing data. Complying with frameworks and regulations like SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, or FISMA is a must. When companies adhere to these rules, they follow the standard practices to keep their data safe.
Prevents Financial Loss
When you encounter a data breach, you not only risk confidential data getting into the wrong hands, but you can also lose money. With potential lawsuits and loss of customer trust likely to occur, data breaches have long-term effects on businesses. Keeping up to date with the best security practices can prevent these.
Practical Steps to Ensure Security
Now that you’re aware of the risks associated with remote work, we’re not just going to stop there – we have to take practical steps to ensure that we’re safe from security threats.
Use Secure Connections
As much as possible, refrain from connecting to public, unsecured networks. To add an extra layer of protection, it’s advisable to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Install Antivirus Software
An essential for anyone owning a computer, antivirus software fends off viruses that may “infect” your computer. Go for reputable programs and regularly update them so you can stay protected in an ever-changing digital landscape.
Use Secure Remote Collaboration Tools
Communication is a cornerstone of any organization, but more so when they employ a remote work setup. Thus, the importance of secure remote collaboration tools cannot be overstated. They must be secure as these are the channels through which sensitive data is exchanged. There are some features that can help you decide if these meet security standards, such as end-to-end encryption. Secure collaboration tools can help organizations maintain a secure software ecosystem.
Update Regularly
Whether it’s software or a system you need to update, it’s crucial to keep your device safe. Updates are known to fix vulnerabilities, which can ensure that remote workers aren’t using versions that are prone to attacks. Moreover, regular updates enhance functionality; remote workers make the most out of their system with the latest tools to help them accomplish their tasks more efficiently.
Employ Multi-Factor Authentication
To beef up your security, employ multi-factor authentication. It requires at least two forms of verification to gain access to your account. You may verify through your mobile device, email, or even your biometrics. In the case an attacker obtains a password, you can still stay protected with this additional security feature.
Final Thoughts
The importance of cybersecurity in remote work cannot be emphasized enough. Staying secure in a remote setup first means understanding the risks associated with it. But with adherence to security practices, remote workers can work productively without leaving their companies vulnerable to security threats.
