Cybersecurity: How to Make Remote Work Secure

The concern for businesses who utilise remote working is security. How can they ensure data is safe? Read on to find out more.

Businesses of various sizes are making use of remote working. It has benefits to all businesses. One, which is key, is that it makes commercial office space less of a necessity. This means that there are lower overhead costs. Small businesses who have a small team of two, three, or more don’t need to worry about having a storefront as they can accomplish essential business functions and selling and managing stock remotely. Larger businesses, who need members of their workforce to be in a designated physical workspace, can rent smaller office spaces. This new and developing practice does present problems for employees and employers, though. Security concerns are high on that list. However, as remote working cases increase, the demand for better technology and security practices does too. Here are four ways in which businesses can make remote work secure.

Wireless Access

Securing wireless access has an extensive history.

Virtual private networks have been in circulation for a couple of decades. They were developed by businesses who wanted to be able to securely send sensitive information between their various sites. The technology would encrypt the line rather than the data itself. It is like being a part of a local network where devices would be directly linked without having to use the internet. Eventually, as more of everyday life began to migrate online, non-business people found use for them. Nowadays, gamers across the world make use of them, particularly mobile gamers. For remote workers, a VPN will be an essential tool for security.

Two-Factor Authentication

An extra step for accessing data or programs can seem a hassle but it is helpful to improve security. There are authenticator apps which can perform the job, or, simply, the user can register a mobile number or email address to receive appropriate codes which they will input to complete the log-in.

Workers Use a Single Device

It is best practice for the employees to use a single device for their work. This will help keep things simple, for both the employee and the business, administrative, as they will only have to register a single device for authorised access, for instance. The other added benefit is leisure activities won’t expose work data to potentially harmful viruses or hacking. Any lax or complacent security practice while using a work laptop for leisure activities could result in work data being stolen or lost. There have been numerous instances of apps and games which have had problematic or non-existent security policies: from Go SMS Pro to Facebook. Keeping work and leisure separate will help avoid problems.

It might be in the companies best interests, if it’s possible, to supply devices for work-use only.

Secure Remote Work

In the light of the recents hacks, companies have to invest in solutions that can protect the access to their most valuable data. The latest technological advancements have resulted in the creation of advanced cybersecurity solutions that regroup all the best practices:

• Unified Cloud Management

• Multi Factor Authentication

• Endpoint Security and Compliance

• DNS Security

• Saas Security

• Cloud Sandboxing

• Firewall as a Service

However, the fact that a solution like Perimeter 81 is compliant with all the previous requirements, does not exempt a company from making sure its employees are also aware of the cybersecurity risks.

Train Employees

Expecting employees to use ‘common sense’ is lazy, and is offsetting responsibility for problems which might arise. They will not do what isn’t taught. Security is as much a habit as anything else is. Therefore, ensuring that the business has rigorous and effective training for employees who are transitioning to working from home or have been recently employed to work from home is essential to for standards to meet the desired level.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes