Cyber Security

4 Effective Cybersecurity Best Practices for Your Remote Working Employees

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30 January 2024

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are at risk of cyber attacks and with the increasing reliance on digital technologies for various aspects of business operations, including communication, data storage, and financial transactions, businesses have become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

Amongst other work models, remote businesses are becoming a more favourable target for individuals with malicious intent. Whilst the remote work model emerged as a necessity following the Coronavirus pandemic, helping businesses to attract business talents from beyond geographical limits, it now poses a cybersecurity threat to many organisations. 

When your employees work from an office, there are layers of security to keep your data safe. It’s not perfect, but it’s tougher for data breaches to occur. On the other hand, when employees work from multiple locations, they create new risks for your company. That’s why extra rules are often necessary.

Your employees play the biggest role in ensuring the security of your business. Therefore, educating them about cybersecurity for remote workers can reduce the vulnerability of your business to cyber threats. To help you train your employees, we have listed four remote work cybersecurity best practices. By implementing these measures, you can create a secure work environment that goes beyond your office walls.

Let’s check them out!

1. Be Mindful of Public Wi-Fi 

The remote work model gives your employees the flexibility to work from different locations. These locations can range from the comfort of their homes to the convenience of working while travelling. While this offers flexibility, addressing remote work cybersecurity safety is important. 

If your employees are working outside their homes, they may be tempted to use public Wi-fi. However, public Wi-fi poses its own set of security risks and we would advise against it. As an alternative, using your personal hotspot is a more secure option.

While a hotspot’s traffic may be unencrypted, it eliminates the threat of hacking from others on the same public network. Many service providers offer private Wi-fi network capabilities through cell phones for minimal charges. You can offer such a subscription plan to all your remote-working employees, providing a secure alternative.

2. Ensure that Business Data Stays on Work Computers

Remote work offers the added benefit of allowing employees to work beyond traditional working hours. The convenience or necessity of the moment may tempt them to use personal computers, exposing their remote working environment to cybersecurity risks. 

In organisations with expert IT teams, routine activities like updates, antivirus scans, and site blocking are put in place for security. However, personal computers often lack the same level of security protocols. This poses a significant risk to both your employees and your company.

Using a personal device can jeopardise your company networks and business data. Therefore, you should strictly instruct your employees to only use work computers for any business-related purpose. Additionally, we would recommend establishing policies for potential liabilities for corporate damages due to policy violations. 

3. Practise Visual Security When Working in Public Places

When working from public spaces like an airport or a restaurant, it’s important to be mindful of your surroundings. Educate your employees to pay attention to sightlines as individuals behind them may unintentionally see sensitive information on their screens. Cybercriminals with sharp observational skills could exploit such situations to identify confidential data. 

Emphasise the importance of keeping the business devices secure to maintain a robust remote work cybersecurity structure. Devices should not be left unattended in public places, for they could be stolen, or data could be copied onto a memory stick.

As a business owner, instilling these practices will help you protect both personal and company information. It’s similar to safeguarding your bank card pin and promotes a culture of increased awareness among your employees for effective remote work cybersecurity.  

4. Update the Devices and Security Softwares Regularly

To keep your remote business safe, you need to take proactive steps. One important measure that your employees can undertake regularly is updating their devices and security software. 

Software developers frequently release security updates to fix existing gaps and make things more secure. These updates often include patches and improvements that make your defences stronger against new cyber threats.

It’s crucial to have a clear policy for regular updates to create a culture of seamless cybersecurity among your employees. Encourage them to update their devices and any security software on their work devices efficiently. These regular updates not only fix potential issues but also add new features that enhance your security.

Managing remote working cybersecurity risks is an ongoing process, and consistent updates play a vital role in maintaining a robust defence against evolving threats.

Want to Protect Your Remote Business Against Cyber Threats? Contact Redpalm Today!

To tackle the ever-evolving cyber threats effectively and keep your business secure, partnering with a reliable managed cyber security provider is extremely important. 

Looking for an experienced cybersecurity company? Redpalm has got you covered. 

At Redpalm, we have a team of seasoned cybersecurity professionals. We have established our name by partnering with countless businesses in and around Northampton. We integrate a strong security plan, allowing you to effortlessly scale your business whilst keeping it safe. 

We also offer various other IT services to make sure your business is updated with the latest technology. Some of our other services include hybrid IT, technology procurement and cloud services and hosting.  

By partnering with our professional IT experts, we can provide everything you need to efficiently carry out your business operations. 

To learn more, visit our services page or get in touch with us today!

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