Times are changing, and businesses are coming up with digitized ways of doing work. Meanwhile, remote working is becoming the norm for modern organizations that look forward to managing their workforce at the lowest cost. However, working remotely presents a unique challenge because of the information security threat. When employees work from home, they are exposed to cyber attacks due to the lack of security controls afforded by an office network environment. Here are some strategies your business can implement to protect your employees when they work outside the office.
Discourage Use of Public Wi-Fi
While most employees isolate themselves socially while working from home, the use of public Wi-Fi is very common among remote workers. A pubic connection increases security risk because other people can access the same network. This potentially allows anyone to easily access crucial company data if there is no firewall. In addition to this, an interested party on the same public system may monitor your workplace data hits and traffic. It is therefore safer to encourage the use of personal networks or hot spots that will ensure that your employees’ data is encrypted.
Enforce Strong Password Security
Password safety is a very reliable means of protecting organizational data. As such, offering password security training is an important step in ensuring that your remote employees’ data is protected. Changing passwords regularly is more crucial now than ever before to ensure maximum security; this should be done every month or after a few months.
Another way to mitigate data security risk is by using a password manager that randomly generates passwords while also storing all the passwords safely. This way, employees will access the company data securely without needing to struggle with remembering all those different passwords every day.
Enforce Use of 2-Factor Authentication
Most companies are currently relying on a two-factor authentication (2FA) approach to secure their data. This ensures that the user’s identity is first confirmed through username and password, then another piece of information is requested, such as a PIN or a “secret question.” With 2FA, passwords cannot be stolen or compromised since it is unlikely that an attacker can guess the correct PIN or question’s answer. You may take a step further by considering a multi-factor authentication, which requires additional verification, such as voice, fingerprint, or retina verification.
Educate your Workforce
Another way of ensuring that your remote workers’ data is safe is to make sure they know how to recognize and stop any security threats. This may require a long-term training and refreshers that help the staff identify the changing risks in the digital working arena. Also, you need a remote work policy that includes security updates, internet access guidelines, and particular messaging applications that would ensure every employee avoids any insecure data access methods. The more informed your team is about cyber security, the more they will be keen on data protection.
Use Encryption Software
Another way to protect remote workers is through the use of encryption software. In case an individual’s device is lost or stolen, the information on the device should never find its way into the wrong hands or cause data breaches. By using encryption software, you will be able to protect the company data against any unauthorized access. Additionally, the programs used for communication should have end-to-end encryption to avoid data leakage.
As working remotely becomes more common, cyber security in San Marcos and the surrounding areas becomes more essential. It is important to implement proper security for your employees and your company to protect your business and data around the clock. Be sure to contact a local cybersecurity company in San Marcos TX or Austin to help you by taking care of all the technical details and headaches. Here at tekRESCUE, we love to help our customers improve their business by providing cybersecurity in Austin Texas and San Marcos with the services they need. Contact us today to discuss your needs!
