4 Must-Know Summer Cybersecurity Tips for Remote Teams

Summer is here, which for businesses means lighter schedules and more employees on holiday or working remotely from different locations. While the flexibility of remote work is highly valuable, it also creates gaps in security awareness that can quietly grow into bigger issues.

It’s natural for your employees to kick back and feel more relaxed during the summer. However, the problem with adopting a more relaxed mindset in a working context is that it can lead to overlooked details that may damage your business.

Things like suspicious emails, weak passwords, accidental data sharing, and lack of backup options make your business highly susceptible to cyber attacks during summer. Remote work adds another layer to this, making it even more important to teach your remote team about clear summer cybersecurity tips.

With a mix of devices, public networks, and limited supervision, the chances of something slipping through the cracks increase. Given the many work from home cyber risks, your employees are more prone to make mistakes if they aren’t fully aware of proper cybersecurity measures.

In this blog post, we’ll explain 4 essential summer cybersecurity tips to help your remote team strengthen your cybersecurity during the holidays.

1. Avoid Using Public WiFi if Possible

Public WiFi can be convenient when you’re on the move during summer. You can find free WiFi hotspots at multiple holiday-related places, like airports, cafés, hotels, and even shopping centres, but these networks often aren’t very secure.

Due to the gaps in cybersecurity, public WiFi is easily interceptable by hackers. Let’s say you’re forwarding a sensitive file or document to one of your team members, a hacker can potentially stop that from happening and gain access to your business’s sensitive information.

Whenever possible, encourage your team to avoid public WiFi for any work-related activity. If they absolutely need to connect, using a trusted Virtual Private Network (VPN) can add a layer of protection by encrypting their connection.

Keeping this habit helps reduce work from home cyber risks and safeguards your business data, no matter where your employees are working from.

2. Turn Off Bluetooth When Not in Use

You may often use Bluetooth to listen to music while travelling, but it can be a weak spot if left on when not in use. Hackers can exploit active Bluetooth connections to access devices without you realising it.

During summer, when your team might be working from public places or travelling often, it’s even more important to bear this in mind. They may be more distracted, and something as simple as turning off their Bluetooth might not be a priority. However, making your team aware of this vital summer cybersecurity tip and the consequences of not following it can make them more cautious.

It’s generally considered good practice to simply turn off Bluetooth when you aren’t using any Bluetooth devices. Doing this cuts down on exposure and reduces the chance of unauthorised access to your devices. Keeping Bluetooth on might not seem like a big deal, but it can cause significant problems.

3. Keep Distinct Work & Personal Devices

When travelling, it can be tempting to use the same device for work and personal stuff as it seems more convenient. However, this can create risks for everyone involved because if personal apps or devices become infected with a virus or hacked, it could also affect your work data.

Keeping work and personal devices separate helps reduce these risks. Your work device stays dedicated to business tasks with the right security controls in place, while your personal device can be used freely without worrying about exposing company information.

If having two devices doesn’t sound practical for you or anyone in your team, you should consider using separate user profiles at the very least. This helps keep work files separate from personal ones, reducing the risk of accidental data leaks.

Remind your team about this simple yet effective practice. It’s an important summer cybersecurity tip that supports better protection, especially during the summer when your employees are more likely to be distracted or travelling around.

4. Watch Out for Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are rampant during the summer. You’ll often come across emails offering travel vouchers and exclusive rates for popular holiday spots that seem too good to be true. These emails aren’t just scams; they can also carry malicious attachments or links that, if clicked, can install malware on your device or steal sensitive information.

Cybercriminals use these tactics to trick the majority of the unsuspecting public by capitalising on the excitement of the summer holidays. That’s why it’s crucial to always verify the sender’s email address, avoid clicking on unexpected links, and report suspicious emails to your IT department.

Remind your employees that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. By providing proper cybersecurity training, you can educate your employees on these practices and therefore increase cybersecurity during the holidays.

Contact Redpalm to Secure Your Business This Summer

Now that you’re more aware of the key summer cybersecurity tips for remote security, you’ll need to think about how robust your business’s current setup is. That’s where Redpalm can help.

Redpalm is a managed service provider (MSP) and a trusted cybersecurity partner. We equip your business with advanced IT infrastructure to swiftly identify and neutralise any security risks.

Our wide range of services includes IT audits and health checks, technology procurement, vulnerability assessments, endpoint management, and more.

To learn more about our managed IT services, click here or contact us to schedule an appointment today.