Remote work options are becoming more popular with a lot of organizations, but their increased reliance on digital technology, as well as they influx of people who will be working remotely increases the risk of cyber attacks. It is the responsibility of the business to equip their employees sufficiently to safely work from home. Here are five steps companies can take to keep remote workers safe from hackers and ensure secure systems:
1. Keep Your Software Up To Date:
No matter how busy life gets, it’s important to make sure that all of the software you’re using is up-to-date. Outdated software can be especially vulnerable to cyber attacks and malware, so make sure everything is patched regularly. Send out check notifications and inform employees of the importance of these checks and updates periodically.
2. Use Strong Passwords:
The more robust your passwords are, the better protected your data will be from unauthorized access. This is especially important in remote work security. Aim for 12 characters or more with a mixture of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t forget to encourage your team to change their passwords every few months too!
3. Create Separate Accounts For Work and Personal Use:
It’s essential that remote workers create two different user accounts – one for work and one for personal use. Enforcing a separation of business and personal information on the same computers and accounts will help to prevent the sensitive information of the business from becoming compromised. It will also protect the employees personal information should the business experience a breach.
4. Utilize Cloud Computing Specialist
A specialist will be able to provide the necessary security protocols and best practices to ensure that your organization is protected. When preparing for the accommodation of a remote work option, businesses should definitely partner with a professional to ensure not only is the business safe, but that employees are properly equipped to be safe as they work. Cloud computing specialists are also able to provide remote access solutions, so they can allow employees to work securely from anywhere.
5. Use a VPN
Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most important steps you can take when it comes to keeping remote workers safe from cyber attacks. A VPN works by masking the IP address of your computer and encrypting the data being sent over the internet, meaning that anyone who’s trying to intercept or access your information will be locked out.
By following these five simple steps, remote workers can significantly reduce their chances of becoming a victim of cybercrime. So make sure you keep your software updated, use strong passwords, create separate accounts for work and personal use, install a reliable antivirus solution, and don’t click on any suspicious links! Happy surfing!