How to Maintain Security with Remote Employees

Tue, Oct 20, 2020 4:19 AM

Working remotely can improve productivity, comfort, and retention of employees. And with the CDC's advice of social distancing to avoid and delay the spread of COVID-19, millions of Americans are working from home. But how do you guarantee protection when workers are not on-site?

This post offers tips for developing a company security strategy that prevents the sensitive data of your company from being compromised.

Why You Need A Security Policy for Company

Remote work poses greater risks of revealing or falling into the wrong hands of details. The personal Wi-Fi networks of employees may not be as safe when working from home or have the same enterprise-level security features that they are used to at the workplace. And workers may opt to operate from places such as hotels or coffee shops while on the go. While this local transition can spark imagination and empower efficiency, it can warrant the use of unknown or unsecured networks by employees.

To access them, unsecured networks do not need authentication. It means that anyone can use the link and probably gain access to employee devices and, in turn, business data.

A security policy provides workers with defined guidelines, allowing them to be intelligent and secure while remotely accessing company data.

How an effective strategy can be built

Establish a security policy with detailed guidelines tailored to the unique security needs of your business. In order to ensure the health of the knowledge and systems of your company while workers are offsite, consider the following:

• Assess applications for antivirus and malware. Work with your IT team to determine whether the safety of software still aligns with the security needs of your company and inform employees of any changes.
• Use a virtual private network ( VPN) to allow employees to access data. This enables them to access sensitive information through a secure, encrypted link that essentially connects the device of a user to the corporate network as if they were physically present.
• To assess whether any malicious activity has been observed on your network, perform an annual checkup or cyber threat evaluation. Work with the IT team to decide the next best steps if suspicious behavior is detected.
• Establish a consistent chain of command in the event that computers are misplaced or stolen from employees. If computers fall into the wrong hands, notify workers about how to contact and educate them about best practices, such as changing passwords or wiping the computer.
• Ensure careful handling of settings. Double-checking the equipment used remotely by employees may support software upgrades and prevents unauthorized applications from being installed.
• Limit access to information about the company. Not every worker requires access to all company data. A veterinarian who needs access to specific records and details to prevent hackers from obtaining access to all information at once.
• Employees are expected to use multi-factor authentication and complex passwords that are hard to guess. Employees should always lock and never leave unattended devices and company-based applications which host or can gain access to company data.

Also Read: Internet 101 : How to Stay Safe Online

Your strategy should provide useful tips for protecting home networks if workers operate from home daily. For instance:

• Secure the Internet router in the house. The router is one of the most critical devices in home security, as it connects all the IoT devices of a home. The default service set identifier (SSID) and password to be started should be updated by employees.
• Regularly update your IoT phone. From the router and computers of a home to the smart assistants and doorbells, all can be hacked. Firmware updates are released frequently and workers should review all devices periodically for updates.
• Limit access to networks. Employees do not feel obligated to exchange Wi-Fi passwords with non-family members of maintenance staff, landscapers, or others. For visitors to the house, a guest network should be set up.
• Investing in reliable antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall software is recommended. This would add an extra security layer to the home networks of employees.

Educate staff on the value of adhering to company security policies and regulations. Stresses the risk factors associated with accessing unsecured connections to data and information. Sensitive information or network access may fall into the wrong hands if security policies are not followed.

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