With more organizations transitioning to remote working, employees are now, more than ever, vulnerable to cyber-attacks and breaches. While it is easy to offer guaranteed cyber protection in the office, remote workers might not have the resources to secure their networks and devices, which leaves loopholes that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
Security parameters are increasingly becoming porous due to technological advancement. With even big companies having to pay a high price for the lack of optimum data security, it is high time that business managers and owners employ more sophisticated security policies to secure valuable data.
Thankfully, there are viable ways you can adopt to protect your business and employees from cybercrime. Read on to see the top eight cybersecurity tips;
Instill awareness among employees
First and foremost, make sure employees are well informed about cyber threats and how they can avoid them. Specifically, emphasize the need to be on the lookout for warning signs, such as suspicious emails and links, and other common ways hackers use to access networks and computers.
When workers are cognizant of how to secure their networks remotely, they are better placed to take the necessary precaution to protect the company from cyber-attacks. According to research, most attacks happen due to individuals neglecting simple security measures. You can secure your business by instilling awareness on how employees should navigate the internet without exposing themselves to malware.
Implement multifactor authentication
Passwords alone are no longer a safe way to protect confidential information, hence the need for multifactor authentication processes. Businesses ought to secure employees’ traffic by mandating two-factor authentication login, which also includes ensuring they use a strong Virtual Private Network (VPN) and connect to the internet only through Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) or HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS).
You can also run a security audit on your employees to make sure they comply with the set security policies. Remind them of the need to set strong passwords and to change them periodically for added security. Having a double layer of security can make it difficult for hackers to access important data.
Ensure your team’s software is up to date
Most cyber-attacks can be attributed to the failure to install updates meant to safeguard computers and networks. As such, criminals take advantage of the loopholes created to infiltrate devices and access confidential data, which can lead to irreparable damages to your business.
It is imperative for employees to understand and adopt remote work policies that will help secure data. In addition to updating software on a daily basis, they should refrain from using untrusted networks to access their laptops, as this can be the opening a hacker needs to steal important information.
Identify official chat tools
Communication is critical in keeping your business going, even more so in remote working as it can allow collaboration among employees. If your company does not have a secure communication channel, you should introduce a safe encrypted communication method, such as a corporate email system, to secure sensitive information.
Designating official communication tools with built-in security features is a sure way to promote collaborative remote working. More importantly, a secure chat tool prevents hackers from intercepting messages and using them maliciously.
Emphasize mandatory backups
Whether through human error or a cyber attack, data could be lost in a split second. Attacks through malware have the potential to wipe out an entire system, and even worse, hackers can steal your data and demand a ransom, as has happened in the past with notable corporations. This is one of the reasons you should insist on the importance of securing work-related data.
Employees should be encouraged to backup data either through online services or external devices. You can opt for cloud backup services, which are more convenient and cost-effective. They also have many options that allow you to customize the system to suit your preferences.
Provide VPN access
VPN offers an added layer of security by encrypting your internet traffic. It also helps to hide your location and IP address, as well as encrypting data as you send it to remote computers. This way, hackers cannot invade your online privacy even when using a network that is not encrypted, for example, a public Wi-Fi.
Most organizations have a VPN service in place; however, if you are yet to establish one, this is the time to do it. And once you introduce one, let your employees know that it should only be used for work-related activities to ensure data security.
Implement remote access software
Having your IT team develop remote access software is another way to protect your employees as they work remotely. With such software, you are able to wipe a computer remotely in the event it is stolen, hacked, or lost. This helps to secure data before it gets in the hands of cybercriminals. It also allows your IT team to push updates when necessary.
Consider programs that are not too intrusive so that you don’t invade your employees’ privacy. Also, make sure you have their consent before installing a program of such kind.
Document remote work cybersecurity policies
Businesses need to develop a well laid out plan on how to handle cybersecurity issues. This involves documenting processes, policies, checklists, and training to make sure all employees are on board. Incorporating an ongoing training process can help keep workers up to date with current cybersecurity issues and provide information on how they should handle them. You should also consider buying a cyber-insurance policy to protect your business from a potential breach because you never know when it will happen.
The takeaway
Remote working is increasingly becoming the new norm, and more businesses are implementing a work-from-home policy. Accordingly, hackers and cybercriminals are sure to exploit this work environment to carry out malicious attacks, which can have adverse consequences on your business.
However, you can prevent potential compromise of information and networks by introducing reliable security tools and ensuring your employees remain vigilant for any signs of threats.
