Cybersecurity & Remote Working
There are a number of key areas to focus on that will help you improve your cybersecurity and enable your team to work safely from home. This can also provide peace of mind through knowing you have strong protection. So, what can you do to overcome the challenges created by remote work? Read on to find out more!
The hack of MGM Casinos just this week has highlighted the importance of having a robust cybersecurity plan in place to prevent physical, man-in-the-middle and social engineering breaches which are happening on an increasingly more widespread scale.
This isn’t the first time MGM has been caught out either: over 142 million customer records were shared on Telegram earlier this year as well.
Another security issue that has become more widespread since 2020 when a lot of people started to work remotely is how you manage your company’s security infrastructure when it’s spread across multiple locations and people’s homes.
Have you noticed that cybercrime has become a much more prevalent issue since the rise of remote work? This is no coincidence, as the sharp increase in employees working remotely and carrying out activities digitally creates vulnerabilities and challenges leading to cybercrime. Therefore, it is vital that businesses know how to develop robust cybersecurity for remote working.
There are a number of key areas to focus on that will help you improve your cybersecurity and enable your team to work safely from home. This can also provide peace of mind through knowing you have strong protection. So, what can you do to overcome the challenges created by remote work?
Make Sure Devices Are Secured
One of the biggest challenges in remote work is that employees often use their own devices for work, which can include computers, laptops, tablets, and phones. This means you must make sure that all devices are secured with high-quality cybersecurity products.
Use Secure Network Connections
Another vulnerability is employees connecting to the company’s network from external connections. This is why remote workers must use secure network connections, which can include their own home network or the use of a VPN if working in an environment with public Wi-Fi, such as a cafe or library.
Strengthen Authentication
You should also enable strong authentication so that you can prevent unauthorized access to systems and data. There are a few ways to strengthen authentication, including:
- Complex passwords protection
- Changing passwords regularly
- Multi-factor authentication
Encrypt Data
It is also a good idea to encrypt data both in transit and in a resting state. Encrypting your sensitive data can protect it from hackers, as it will be unreadable even if it falls into the wrong hands.
Use Firewalls
A firewall is one of the most important cybersecurity products for any organization. A firewall will monitor incoming and outgoing traffic and act as a barrier based on an established set of rules. Firewalls can play a key role in establishing a secure remote work setup by enabling control of who can access the company network remotely.
Firewalls also offer intrusion detection and prevention with the ability to monitor remote connections, which will help protect the network and sensitive data from remote users. As such an important part of your cybersecurity defense, you should always get your firewall from an established cybersecurity specialist. Companies like sonicwallonline.co.uk provide a range of advanced firewalls that will allow you to develop robust network security.
Cybersecurity Training
Finally, you should provide cybersecurity training for your remote employees. Having high-quality products in place is important, but you still need to educate your staff on how to work safely and detect common scams. 95% of cyber attacks succeed due to human error, so this can be a major risk for all businesses. Training will also give your team confidence and the ability to protect their own data at home.
There are many benefits to remote work, but it can create cybersecurity vulnerabilities and challenges. This article should help you to strengthen your defense so that your team can work with confidence no matter where they are working from.