The current coronavirus outbreak has resulted in many more employees working from home, however this isn’t a new phenomenon. Many organisations offer a flexible working policy, where staff can spend some of their working week from the comfort of their own homes. However, this luxury has its downsides, mainly in the form of online security threats.
Here are our Top 5 ways to stay secure whilst remote working…
Multifactor Authentification
Having a strong password often isnʼt enough, for example, if your credentials are leaked in a data breach. Multifactor authentication involves an additional step to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts. The extra step could be an email or text message confirmation, or even a biometric method such as facial recognition or a fingerprint scan.
VPN Encryption
Many people are familiar with using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass geographic restrictions on streaming sites and other location-specific content. VPN encryption is the process of securing the data within the VPN client-VPN server tunnel to make sure it can't be exploited by anyone. Basically, when you run a VPN client and connect to a VPN server, your connection requests are encrypted before they are sent to the server.
Mobile Device Management
The average office worker will probably have more than one work device, i.e. a laptop and a smartphone, especially during a lockdown! These devices are deployed across multiple mobile service providers and across multiple mobile operating systems, so can be little difficult to manage. A mobile device management (MDM) solution can be used to monitor, manage and secure employees' mobile devices.
Managed Anti Virus & Security
Although having a firewall is important, it's inevitable that online threats can get through. A good antivirus software can act as the next line of defence by detecting and blocking known malware. Even if malware does manage to find its way onto your device, an antivirus may be able to detect and, in some cases, remove it.
Backup Your Data
Data can be lost in a number of ways including; human error, physical damage to hardware, or a cyberattack. While hardware backups are still an option, one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to store your data is in the cloud. Cloud backup services come with a wealth of options enabling you to customise your backup schedule and storage options.
