Due to various factors, the trend has been for businesses to shift more staff to remote work. While this obviously won’t work for all vocations, the more significant problem is the challenge of maintaining high levels of digital security.
While on-premise, office workers can usually be covered under the auspices of an in-house IT team. While some of that security coverage can extend to remote workers, businesses need to be concerned about higher risk.
How to Keep Remote Workers Safe
From phishing attacks attempting to gain login credentials to weak home WiFi security, many things can go wrong when staff work from home.
Here are some of the top things you can work on to improve digital security;
1. Encrypt Data on Devices
Just because remote workers are allowed to bring devices home doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to secure them.
Devices get lost or stolen all the time, so ensure the data is secure through encryption.
Various applications can handle this, some of which may even come as part of business-level applications. For example, Windows 10 Professional comes with BitLocker, which can handle that encryption.
If your applications or devices don’t support encryption natively, use a tool like AxCrypt, which costs a whole lot less than you might lose through compromised access. Ideally, opt for device-level encryption rather than simple data encryption.
2. Secure Your Web Assets
There are over 1.85 billion websites online, causing an increasing number of IT professionals concern about their data security.
Although remote workers and website security may be slightly different, you must secure both.
This fact is especially true if your remote workers need to use your company website regularly – for example, to make updates to content.
In scenarios such as this, security elements such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) play a vital role in ensuring data security.
3. Enforce Strong Password Use
Left to their own devices, many individuals today still use simple passwords that are easy to crack.
Even worse, many also re-use the same password across multiple services, increasing the risk if there were to be a data breach.
While you can’t control what they do on personal services, enforce strict password policies for corporate services. Examples of this are the credentials used on company servers, email, or other areas.
Strong passwords need to;
- Be at least eight characters in length
- Mix uppercase and lowercase characters
- Include digits and special characters
Passwords should also be unique to services and users. If your remote workers have difficulty in achieving this, consider the use of password managers.
These applications can help store and autofill credentials for various services.
4. Mandate Virtual Private Network Use
Remote workers often need to connect to various entities, be it company servers or other Cloud-based services.
This connection results in multiple points of vulnerability along the chain of data transmission.
Home WiFi is of especial concern for remote workers since many are notoriously unsafe. If your remote workers use public WiFi, the risk rises even further.
Unsecure WiFi channels are rife with eavesdroppers ever ready to steal data in transmission.
To improve data security, choose to implement Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt data for safer transmission.
VPN use can be either enterprise-scale or, for smaller businesses, there are consumer-grade options available.
Some VPNs have developed business plans for smaller companies that work just as well and offer better security than simply leaving connections naked.
5. Use of Antivirus Solutions
The next thing to implement is likely not unexpected, the age-old antivirus solution. While these applications may have been around for a long time, they have only increased in relevance.
Today, Malware takes multiple forms, and cybersecurity companies are pushing complete Internet Security suites instead.
There are multiple levels of antivirus solutions to consider depending on the scale of your business. Microbusinesses can consider free antivirus solutions, but those aren’t typically suitable past that scale.
Smaller companies can still opt for consumer-grade Internet Security suites such as Norton 360 Deluxe. These licenses will cover multiple devices, so you can get away with purchasing the number you need.
On the higher end of the scale, larger companies may need to opt for end-point security, which is generally more expensive and harder to deploy and manage.
6. Ensure Devices and Applications are Updated
All software has vulnerabilities and more typically turns up over time. As these vulnerabilities emerge, the developers release updates and patches to fix them.
To protect your remote workers, ensure that their devices and applications used are regularly updated.
Aside from these patches, some devices also have limited update lifespans. For example, smartphones running on Android may not get security updates beyond a specific time limit.
While this may not bother individual users too much, it is of concern to business users.
7. Exercise Caution With Personal Device Use
For companies that don’t traditionally support remote workers, investing in the necessary equipment can be expensive. In some cases, companies have approved the use of personal devices to mitigate this cost.
While this may help avoid some capital expenditure, the use of personal equipment for remote work introduces many elements of risk. Other software or services they use on the same may result in compromised work data.
It can also be more challenging to secure personal devices unless the workers are willing to allow corporate IT to manage them to some extent.
8. Implement Firewalls and Proper Authentication for Office Systems
Since you expect remote workers to connect to office systems, you need to prepare for external connections to internal networks.
This expectancy means that both ends have to be secured, not just those on the remote workers’ side of the equation.
Proper network security to internal systems means appropriate authentication processes, firewalls to check if connections are valid and constant monitoring is carried out to ensure nothing untoward is happening due to those activities.
Sealing off your network from external access might be safer, but it’s impossible to do if staff need access to them.
Ideally, make use of enterprise-grade authentication and hardware firewalls for the best security combination possible.
9. Be Especially Alert for Phishing Scams
One thing which needs special mention is the increased risk of phishing scams. These scams can happen not only via email but even phone-in connections.
Scammers may try to misrepresent themselves as staff to gain improper access to company information.
Always have a system that allows for quick verification of identity before any approvals are granted, or information is released.
Exactly how this is done can differ according to the needs of each organization.
In addition, all activities should be accompanied by comprehensive records or logging to ensure that it’s traceable in case something goes wrong.
10. Provide Training in Security and Awareness
Before allowing staff to work remotely, it always helps if they are briefed on proper procedures in advance.
Having the right protocols in place is one thing, but ensuring that staff are aware of them and trained to comply is another.
The human factor element is one of the chief security risks in any organization. Even if training is done informally and in small teams, as long as you use elements like checklists and other items, sufficient awareness levels should be possible.
Conclusion
Working from home or remotely isn’t a new concept, but it’s something that companies have dragged their feet over for some time.
Things have changed, though, and in some cases, not doing so is no longer a valid option.
Always remember that the cost of not securing remote workers can be financially and reputationally damaging. Investing in the right plans and assets can safeguard your future work efforts.
