Remote working has been a necessity for the past few months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations. Nearly 1/3 of the US workforce has been working from home. This increase in remote workers will carry through into the post-pandemic world, with many Silicon Valley tech giants changing policies to support full-time remote work far into the future. Considering 98% of survey participants would like the option to work remotely, it is important for companies to take this information into account and prioritize updating WFH policies. While many employers have been working on ways to maintain productivity, it would be negligent to forget about security. Remote working introduces a whole new set of challenges, and with the increase in the number of remote workers, it is especially important to monitor and evaluate security continuously and consistently.
It is important to fortify both physical and network security with updated policies. Here are a few ways to help your workforce safely work from home:
Strong authentication methods
- Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) to all remote access solutions. This ensures that only company employees will have access to company resources and discourages any unsafe activity.
Wi-Fi encryption
- An encrypted connection keeps any sensitive information safe by preventing attackers from intercepting anything sent or entered online. While there are many Wi-Fi encryption standards, the best option is usually WPA2. Lastly, make sure that the Wi-Fi password is strong!
Encrypted VPNs
- Providing VPNs will prevent any interception that would happen on a public Wi-Fi network – all data is encrypted when connected through a VPN. Make sure that VPN solutions are updated to the newest version on both the remote user desktops, and the server/firewall that is providing the solutions.
Malware, antivirus & firewall protection
- Ensure that reliable malware, antivirus, and firewall protection software is on all remote devices. In addition, it is always important to keep these applications up to date. This will reduce risks greatly, even if it may not be as powerful as the solutions usually on on-premise devices.
Clearly defined physical safety responsibilities
- Creating rules and guidelines for remote employees to follow will help ensure the physical safety of corporate devices. Require employees to solely use corporate messaging, mail, and other platforms rather than any other channels. Make sure employees know to lock their screens whenever they leave their device, no matter how short their absence. Require password protection on all devices and programs.
The combination of all these safeguards, as well as any others, will help you protect your company’s cyber security. Learn more at ContactBabel.
