Remote working can be a blessing for employees, but a curse for a company’s security. That’s where we come in, with our Working from Home Security Checklist.
Gone are the days when employees work from a central office location. Thanks to major advances in IT, more flexible working options have become available, such as working from home, which is great for avoiding long commutes, work-life balance and attracting top talent.
But working from home presents its own unique challenges for IT managers and business owners. How do you keep your organization safe and your information systems secure? Our Working from Home Security Checklist, has six essential tips for securing your IT, no matter where your employees work.
The “Six Rules of Remote Working Security”
So, how do you keep your company’s data safe and your IT infrastructure secure, even when part of your workforce works from home? These six tips should form the “Foundation” of your working from home security plan. That way, you minimize gaps in your business security. And trust us, there are possible attackers around every corner…
The 1st Rule – Don’t Expect Your Employees to Know What’s Best
You may have thoughts like: “But this is common sense” or “it’s intuitive, people know these things”. However, it’s unwise to assume that your staff can take care of its own IT security with little or no guidance. They will look to youfor direction. So…
COMMUNICATION and TRAINING are key. Share your remote working security best practices with your employees. Teach them how to spot things like phishing scams and ransomware attacks. Don’t assume that they know what’s safe and unsafe.
The 2nd Rule– Do Not Rely On Public Wi-Fi
It may be tempting to quickly answer a company email while at the coffee shop. But unless you log into a private Wi-Fi network (aka. one that requires a password), you’re sharing that connection, and possibly your company’s private information, with anyone using that public Wi-Fi.
SECURE ACCESS should be a major concern when working from home. Make sure employees have a secure way to access the internet that doesn’t rely on public Wi-Fi. A corporate VPN, or virtual private network, is recommended since it masks your online activities and IP address (basically your computer’s postal code), with encrypted connections for greater privacy and security.
The 3rd Rule –Store Your Data Safely
Today’s cyber criminals are savvy. Information is now their target. Gain the right info and they could have access to your entire organization. So it may be unwise to store your most precious data on something that can easily be hacked, lost, or misplaced.
A USB memory stick can be dropped or stolen. An unsecured, or even a secured home computer can still provide an entryway to your company’s databases, especially if employees are using at-home Wi-Fi. And using your smartphone can be hazardous because the necessary layers of protection just aren’t there.
DATA STORAGE needs to be exclusively on-site, within secure company premises, or a reliable cloud-based service, which means it is stored on secure remote storage systems that are backed up, maintained, and monitored.
The 4th Rule –Monitor Your Staff’s Systems
There are clever tools to remotely monitor your employees’ productivity, project management and even their social media usage while on company time. But that’s not what we’re talking about. There are also ways to remotely monitor your employees’ computer systems, to keep a lookout for security threats.
ADD REMOTE SECURITY MONITORING when possible, either through your office’s own internal IT department or a managed IT provider that can use the latest technology to watch over your systems in real-time and immediately report any suspicious activity or external threats.
The 5th Rule –Have a Plan for When Things Hit the Fan
A security breach can happen, even with the best work from home practices and highest security precautions. Don’t make the mistake of assuming it will never happen to you. Always have an alternate plan for when things go sideways, so your business experiences minimal disruptions and downtime.
CONTINGENCY PLANNING means you have a Plan B, Plan C and even Plan D etc. that will allow your staff to remain calm even in the worst-case scenarios. Your business security and continuity plan should have actionable steps for dealing with security issues if and when they arise. This will help your team stay cool and minimize damage.
The 6th Rule –Seek Out Help When Needed
What helps you keep your head in a crisis? The knowledge that help is there and it’s easy to access. Just like we have the comfort of knowing 911 is there in case of a health emergency, having a clear chain of support is also essential for any remote working employee. It’s even more crucial when working from home because, unlike the office, the IT guy isn’t around the corner.
WORK CLOSELY WITH IT PROVIDERS, to assess, mitigate and respond to security issues. Ensure your team knows who to call for support and make certain these IT providers are accessible during working hours. In fact, prompt customer service and problem resolution should be top-of-list when choosing a reliable managed IT service.
Why These Rules Will Keep Your Home-Workers Safe
Not every IT specialist knows the best way to setup a secure home office. But we do, and with our Working from Home Security Checklist we hope you feel empowered. With COVID-19 and other cultural shifts, remote working is not something that is going to go away anytime soon. Yet, with the right precautions and our essential tech-saving tips, you will have the reassurance that your data and IT systems are safe, whether your employees work from a cubicle or at the kitchen counter.
Want to rest easy while your employees work from home? Learn more about the benefits of our Managed IT and Security Monitoring Services.