Over the past year, there has been a sudden and unprecedented shift to working from home due to the COVID-19 crisis. As a result, companies of all sizes and in all sectors have been forced to adapt and adjust the way they work to ensure they are up to the challenge. And one of the biggest challenges for businesses as they adapt to this new normal is ensuring the security of corporate data when employees are working remotely. So how can small and medium businesses stay on top of applying cybersecurity for remote work?
Physical device security
Many cybersecurity measures today are digital and can be easily applied to remote work in the same way they are applied in the office. However, it is important to note that when employees are working from home, devices may be more exposed to threats such as theft and physical damage. Whether your employees have taken company devices home to work or are using their own equipment, it's important to have strict ground rules, such as not leaving devices unattended and using passwords. strong passwords to access the device. Equipment should be turned off and safely stored when leaving the house and at the end of the work day.
Outsourced IT
Working with an IT support company that has experience with companies whose employees work remotely is key to keeping cybersecurity threats at bay during the COVID-19 crisis. Outsourced IT teams are very experienced and knowledgeable and are often much cheaper for small and medium businesses compared to hiring an in-house IT team. If you already employ in-house IT people, they can benefit from the backup and support of a dedicated company that takes care of IT for your business.
social engineering awareness
Over the past twelve months, we have seen an increase in phishing attempts and other social engineering attacks, many of which are directly related to the COVID-19 crisis. With more people working from home than ever before, hackers and other cybercriminals wasted no time trying to trick employees into handing over sensitive data such as passwords and other login credentials. Therefore, it is more important than ever that all employees are fully trained and know what to look for and how to prevent this type of attack.
secured access
The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) has become increasingly essential over the past year to minimize the cybersecurity risks of remote working. VPNs work by creating a secure virtual tunnel to another network or device, making it difficult, if not impossible, for someone else to access a user's browsing activity. They are a useful tool for remote work, allowing your employees to remotely access company data and resources from home.
With more people working from home than ever before, businesses need to ensure their cybersecurity measures also fit into the new normal.
