How to protect business data as a remote worker
Although the height of COVID-19 is now (thankfully) a thing of the recent past, many changes made during the pandemic are here to stay. A prime example here is, of course, working remotely. A vast majority of businesses and companies in 2022 are now choosing to provide greater flexibility for the future by embracing work-from-home setups that offer numerous benefits such as increased levels of employee productivity, lower turnover rates, and improved job satisfaction amongst many others.
However, amidst such positive change also comes new concerns for data and cybersecurity. With more and more people working off their personal mobile phones, tablets, and computers, protecting business data has never been more important than it is today. Thankfully, keeping your devices and data secure as a remote worker doesn’t have to be rocket science.
Today, we look at 6 ways you can protect business data as a remote worker, even from the comfort of your own home.
Always Use A VPN
If you’re keen on browsing the international Netflix catalogue, you’ll probably already know what a VPN is, and you may already be using a paid service or free VPN download. However, for those who haven’t heard of a VPN or Virtual Private Network, it is essentially a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online.
VPN services provide users with an encrypted server that hides your IP address from corporations, hackers, and other cyber and data security threats. If you’re a remote worker who deals with sensitive information daily, the best thing you can do to protect business data is to always use a VPN when you are connected to the net. This is especially important if you frequently travel for work or rely on public Wi-Fi connections that open you up to a higher risk of cyber threats.
There are a variety of VPN services out there to suit all device or network needs, so you should feel encouraged to shop around to find one that really helps you amp up your cyber security when working remotely.
Ensure Your Internet Connection Is Secure
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to exposing sensitive business data to a potential security breach is an internet connection that’s not secure. Although the majority of remote workers operate from a home base with a secure Wi-Fi connection, there may be instances in which you feel like heading out to a local cafe or coffee shop to get your work done. And whilst there is certainly nothing wrong with doing this (we all need a change in environment once in a while), it is important to note that public WiFi connections do not offer the same protections that an office or home router will have, even if you do use public Wi-Fi connections cautiously.
Unfortunately, cyber criminals and hackers can easily access your device if you happen to be using the same network that they happen to be on, making it all that more important to take active measures to protect your business data when working on the go. One of the ways you can do this should you need to work in a public space is to only use a personal hotspot on your phone or another trusted device. That being said, we still highly recommend going the VPN route alongside hotspotting for additional security when working remotely.
Keep Passwords Strong and Varied
Are you guilty of using the same password for dozens of different logins and accounts? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. While it may take a little effort on your part to come up with a variety of different passwords, taking the extra steps to ensure all your passwords are strong and varied will make all the difference. As a general rule of thumb, your password should contain a minimum of 8 characters containing both numeric and alphabetic characters. Your passwords should never contain personal information, nor should you use the same ones for personal and business accounts.
Additionally, we always recommend enabling multi-factor authentication that will allow you to further validate your login with a one-time-password that is accessed from a separate device. If you have trouble memorising a list of different passwords, we highly recommend looking into one of the many password management tools available online to help you keep track of your logins with ease.
Participate In Cyber Security Training
Unfortunately, scams, hacking attacks and other cybersecurity threats have evolved to become incredibly sophisticated and convincing in the last couple of years. More and more people are falling victim to these threats as a result, making it absolutely vital for remote workers to frequently participate in cyber security training. The truth is, without adequate knowledge and training, everyone has the potential of falling victim to a cyber threat regardless of your job, age or experience.
If you work within a larger team of remote and hybrid workers, it’s well worth suggesting cybersecurity training seminars to your management staff, just to ensure that all your fellow employees are in the loop with regards to your company’s cybersecurity protocol and best practices. Making sure that everyone’s on the same page can mean the difference between a devastating security breach and a blip on the radar that can easily be gotten ahead of.
Protect Your Devices With Antivirus Software
Most businesses utilise a variety of different cybersecurity tools including VPNs, firewalls and antivirus software on their company network and devices. On top of this, larger companies often have strict rules and policies in place that prohibit employees from installing applications and limit access to unauthorised devices using their private network as a means of keeping business data secure. However, matching this level of security when working remotely can be a tricky task, especially if your company may be lacking the resources to set up a secure VLAN. This is why it is always recommended for remote workers to take critical steps in protecting personal devices with antivirus software.
There are a variety of reliable security solutions in 2022 that offer protection from viruses, spyware, malware, phishing attacks, spam, rootkits, Trojans, and other online cyber threats for as little as $5 a month. However, if you don’t want to spend money on a premium subscription, there are also free versions that will still significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats when compared to using no antivirus protection at all.
Keep Work and Personal Separate
Last but not least, one of the easiest yet most effective ways of protecting business data as a remote worker is to keep your work and personal data separate. As tempting as it may be to hop on to check your personal emails or watch a YouTube video on your work device (or vice versa), doing so may significantly increase the risk of a cybersecurity event. Our best advice here is to just not do it.
But what if you only have one device to work off? In that case, the easiest way to split your work and personal life is to create multiple desktops on your device (or spaces, as they are called on Macs). Alternatively, you can also create separate login accounts or profiles on your device to truly separate the two halves of your life. Do keep in mind that these options still pose a significant cybersecurity threat, so if possible, always maintain work and life on two separate devices.
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And there you have it – 6 practical tips for protecting sensitive business data as a remote worker. Remote work doesn’t have to jeopardise data security, and by following these 6 tips, you will be well on your way towards feeling confident in protecting confidential company data, no matter where you are working from.
Do you have any tips for protecting business data when working from home? Be sure to leave a comment and share your thoughts.