5 Tips To Secure Your Information While Working Remotely

May 05, 2020

5 Tips To Secure Your Information While Working Remotely

Being able to work while on the move is one of the most flexible options that an employee would get.

On the downside, however, this provision has its fair share of challenges. Working remotely requires you to log in to the internet to be able to make your submissions in time. Using the Internet exposes not only your device but the confidential data that you are sharing with a lot of vulnerabilities.

So, how do you stay safe when situations like the coronavirus necessitate working remotely? This article brings you important tips to enhance the safety of your internet devices and confidential information while working remotely.

But first, let’s take a look at some of the potential security risks associated with remote work.

Potential Hazards Of Remote Work

Phishing emails

Phishing emails are responsible for most data breach attacks across the world. Hackers and malicious internet users may spam your inbox with seemingly legit emails. These deceptive emails have malicious links which once clicked, give the hacker unauthorized access to your device.

Hackers use this as an avenue to collect and steal sensitive user data and confidential information. Remote workers are a viable target for phishing scams; hackers know that many of their correspondences are sent through emails.

Weak passwords

Simple and easy to guess passwords are another prime target for hackers. They are easy to crack may be used to access your accounts. Using similar easy to guess passwords on multiple accounts makes you more vulnerable in the event of a successful crack by hackers.

Unsecured internet connections

Unlike in an office setting where the IT team always keeps the security of the internet connections in check, there is little a team can do to confirm the security of the connections you are using while working remotely.

The possibility of having team members connect to networks with weak security protocols is always at play.

Lack of a boundary between work and personal data

Many remote workers have no boundary between personal and work data access. Many people use personal devices to access corporate accounts and vice versa. While many team leaders think that this is a good thing to do and many employees find it convenient, it leaves a company’s data at risk.

Personal devices may not have enough cybersecurity measures in place and might be accessed by other members of the employee’s household. This leaves confidential company data at risk of exposure.

Security of work devices

As a remote worker, you never know who could be in search of your company’s information. When malicious people notice that you are working from a public place, they may plan on accessing your information by stealing your work devices like laptops or mobile phones.

Am sure you have heard of cases where thieves break into a private car and take off with a laptop or mobile phone. Many a time, such thieves are after user data.

Tips To Ensuring Data Safety

Training and sensitization

All members of the remote workforce should be trained on how to identify potential scams and how to remain on the watch out for malicious emails, links, malware, and other threats. Your team members should also be taught some of the basic actions to take in the event of a cyber-invasion.

Some indicators of a possible data breach include the appearance of new application programs that were not previously installed and unusual pop-ups on the work screen.

Keep your devices up-to-date

Install software and applications update whenever you receive notifications of their availability. Most updates contain software patches and are only meant to protect you from malicious attacks.

Use a VPN

Using Virtual private networks is the best way to keep your traffic safe. This is especially so when you are using public networks whose security you cannot verify. VPNs create a secure tunnel for all the data sent or received from your device until it reaches the intended user.

You can secure all the devices for your remote team by downloading a VPN for different devices. With this, you can rest assured that all your communications are private whether the employees are on unsecured networks or not.

Issue company devices

This is a straightforward way of minimizing threats emanating from sharing personal devices or using them for work. With company-owned devices, you will be able to create a remote work policy; that corporate data remains on work devices only.

It’s also easier to ensure that company devices have all the security systems in place at all times. The same may be harder to implement on personal devices. For instance, you cannot force an employee to uninstall a certain program on their device even if you feel it could not be from a legit source.

Use strong passwords

Creating strong and unique passwords on all your accounts is probably one of the easiest ways of protecting your devices and important information. Strengthen your defense by mixing upper and lowercase characters, numbers, and symbols.

And this includes device unlocking passwords as well as account passwords. You should also avoid using the same password on multiple accounts.

Author:

Jack Warner from TechWarn

jack.warner@techwarn.com