Most members of the workforce have been forced to adapt a remote working scheme in response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s nothing inherently wrong with remote work, especially when we consider the fact that thousands of people have been doing remote work for years now.
The challenge lies in the abruptness of the shift from office work to remote work. This sudden shift leaves businesses with little to no time to account for the new variables involved in online work. One of the biggest things that remote workers forego is that of company security. The truth is that corporate cybersecurity needs to go beyond a simple antivirus.
Here are some measures that remote workers need to implement to ensure that they’re safe from cyberthreats:
Update Your Network Security Regularly
This entails updating all of the devices you use for work. Keeping the software of your devices up-to-date ensures that any vulnerabilities are patched up and that any recent exploits are made ineffective. It’s also for this reason that whenever there’s news of a major software exploit, an update is bound to be released after a few days.
Prioritize Confidentiality
Confidentiality goes beyond withholding sensitive information from people who have no business with your work; it also means setting up measures to ensure that any work-related interaction is kept private. Measures like this double virtual private network (VPN) are an essential part of any cybersecurity detail, as this ensures your location and web activity are masked from prying eyes.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
With all the data leaks we’ve seen, we now know that passwords can be deciphered easily. Even when we practice good password etiquette, enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security because of how it requires another step before gaining access. Not only this, but it also helps alert you if someone is trying to access your account or device without your permission.
Recognize and Avoid Phishing Emails
A general rule in recognizing and avoiding phishing emails is that you should never click on an email unless you know who sent the email, and you’re expecting an email from that person. Some characteristics of phishing emails include being sent from strange email addresses, being poorly-written, and not matching the personality or tone of the person they claim to be sent from.
In any case, never divulge any personal information online. This information can be used to infiltrate your security, or worse, it may eventually find someone else through the information you provide.
There is a real need to ensure that your home office is sufficiently-equipped to repel any cyber threat. There has been an increase in the number of cybercrime cases since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fact that remote workers do not enjoy the same level of security as they did at the office should be a cause for concern. You don’t need corporate-level security at home, but you shouldn’t be careless with security either.
