If you are working from home and concerned about cybersecurity, then you are in the right place.
Freelancers and virtual assistants are working from home for decades and the concept of hiring distant employees is not new. But what is different in the current scenario of teleworking, is accessing the company’s database directly from a remote location.
The company’s internal database contains sensitive information and only selected people are allowed to access it. Usually, companies and organizations don’t allow accessing this database from home due to security and privacy reasons. But situations like COVID-19 left them with no choice than to ask their employees to work from home.
6 Cybersecurity Tips for Working Remotely
The current work from the home situation has raised many problems for the organizations, and the top of the list is cybersecurity threats. Here are a few tips to increase the cybersecurity of your company or organization.
1. Ensure Authorized Access
To minimize the cybersecurity threats to the company’s database, it is essential to ensure that only authorized people are accessing it.
The leader or head of the organization must ask all the team members to use strong passwords for their accounts. The passwords must be unique and not easy to decode. A random mix of letters and symbols, along with uppercase and lowercase letters, make the strongest passwords.
Strong passwords help in reducing the chances of unauthorized access. To further enhance the security of their database, companies can use two-step verification by making it essential to use fingerprint or face recognition, along with the password, to access the system.
2. Use Secure Devices
The most important issue of working from home is the security of the devices used for accessing the company’s database.
Since employees are using their own laptops for working from home, it is crucial to ask them to secure their devices. An updated version of antivirus software, along with Firewall, can boost the device security and minimize the chances of cyber-attack.
Employers and heads of the organizations can also provide their own secured devices to their employees, especially if the company is dealing with sensitive data.
3. Configure Router Setting
Routers come with their default settings and passwords. Most people are okay with it and are even unaware that they can configure their router settings.
To make the remote connections safer, it is essential to ask employees to change their router password every few weeks. This way, no one can access their router settings and can use it for malicious activities.
Some routers are not protected with a password, which shows they are not encrypted. In this case, employees must update their routers to WPA2 or WPA3, to make sure that data entering and leaving their devices are not accessible to cybercriminals.
4. Protect your Network
Network protection is the least bothered aspect of data protection at homes. Usually, companies hire software agencies to set up a well-protected network within their organizations. But, when it comes to sharing the internal database with remote employees, network security becomes a major concern.
Most local Wi-Fi suppliers do not provide network security, and the data moving to and fro the network is easily accessible for predators and spies. In this case, it is recommended to use a VPN. VPN provides an encrypted tunnel for all your online transactions and even disguises your identity and location.
Providing VPN to all the employees is definitely a huge cost for companies, but it is essential for their data security.
5. Use Encrypted Tools
All data sharing tools and software do not provide end-to-end encryption. This means shared files and communication on these platforms are not secure and can be accessed by others.
To solve this issue, there are various tools for communication and sharing data among team members. These tools are encrypted and maximize online data security. The companies must use only these encrypted software and tools for their virtual meetings and for sharing their data online.
6. Educate Team Members
Human error is one of the major causes of online data breach. There could be many forms of human error, like the mishandling of software, clicking on malicious links, leaking of passwords, etc.
To minimize these human errors, it is essential to train all the team members regarding cybersecurity. They must be educated about safe online practices and proper handling of software and tools that are used by the company.
Cybersecurity is the major concern of the world, especially in this current scenario of COVID-19. It is the best chance for cybercriminals and predators to attack the companies` databases and software and get access to important data and files. The time is calling for being more vigilant and using extra layers of security, to be safe from cyber-attacks.
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Author Bio: Susan Alexandra is a small business owner, traveler and investor of cryptocurrencies. She is just another creative writer helping to create the kind of information that young people want.
Susan is a guest blogger, all opinions are her own.
