Remote working: cybersecurity concerns

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Louise Howland

Remote Worker Security
Pay for anti-virus protection
The number one thing you need in place is good ant-virus software. As businesses deployed rapid home working many relied on staff using their own equipment but didn’t necessarily ensure the level and quality of virus protection on those machines. There are free anti-virus products available but as with so many other things, you get what you pay for.Always Use VPN
Ensuring you are connected to a VPN (virtual private network) rather than public Wi-Fi is an important security consideration when working remotely. A VPN helps by improving your online privacy, as it encrypts all your internet traffic so that it is unreadable to anyone who attempts to intercept it. There is however a risk here if you install VPN software on unclean or unprotected devices, as the VPN creates a tunnel between the two endpoints and that tunnel can and will carry infections where they’re present. Read more on the dangers of public WiFi here.Do Not Share Sensitive Information Through Email
When you are working from home, it is important not to let your security measures slip. For example, if you cannot get into your remote access and you need a password desperately, do not be tempted to ask one of your colleagues or send any emails yourself containing passwords. Emails are not encrypted but rather are transmitted in clear form. You could easily send an email to the wrong person, even accidentally, or it could get in the hands of the wrong person. Be sure not to risk the security of passwords and never send sensitive information over email.Install Updates Regularly
In many cases, you can set updates to run automatically, often while you are sleeping, so you do not have to worry about downtime. This is important to do because updates can improve the stability of your software and get rid of outdated features, which reduce the vulnerability of your PC catching a virus.Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
By setting up two up two-factor authentication, you can guarantee additional security on all your devices and accounts, this can prevent any potential targeted hackings. Two-factor authentication means when you log into your app or account, a code will be sent to your choice of source (either via text, phone, or email) and you will have to enter this code at log in. This is as great way to repel hackers away and keeping your accounts safe.