The corporate shift from in-office to remote work cultures has been fascinating. But inevitably, such dramatic changes do come with a cost. In this case, the cost is increased risk to data security. There are things you can do to protect both the remote friendly workplace and the integrity of your systems. Here are a few rules of thumb to make sure your staff stays safe online.
Train Your People
Data security for a remote workforce looks very different from in office. This is true even when so many companies were already moving more data to the cloud. But the importance of that data security matters more than ever. While mistakes do happen, such mistakes can put your company at real risk. Mitigating the probability of human error is an absolute necessity and the cornerstone of any thorough cybersecurity plan. 47% of data breaches are caused by employee negligence like accidental loss of a device or misplacing a document online.
With cyberattacks costing businesses an average of $5 million, this is an area in which all businesses need to improve. Train your workforce on the importance of cybersecurity. Don’t assume they know or can navigate the latest technologies and tools on their own. Address common mistakes and ensure that remote work is conducted safely. This will help provide cover from cyber-attacks and improve the “digital hygiene” of your workforce.
Virus Protection
Antivirus software is designed to find known viruses and malware that can have a detrimental impact. Such programs are still one of the most important staples to cyber security. Antivirus programs provide a way to protect against known threats. But that is also their weakness.
The effectiveness of an antivirus program is heavily dependent on how often it is updated. Therefore, it is important to have the antivirus program scheduled to update daily. Most antivirus programs rely on a library or database of known viruses that they use to compare with programs on a user’s device. If a match is found, the malicious program will either be deleted or placed into a quarantine area from which a user can decide to restore or delete the program manually.
VPN
Especially with more workers trying to stay productive while remote, VPN is critical to reducing risk when not on the official corporate network. VPN has long been the answer to these remote work security concerns and it is even more relevant today. VPN provides secure access to the internal network that remote employees need to be productive day in and day out. It furthermore limits risk by ensuring a secure connection while giving your remote workers access to the resources they need. Making sure that remote workers have access to the right information and resources via your internal network is critical but it must be provided with the data security to ensure your sensitive information is kept safe. But with VPN, data security is protected while your workforce can stay in touch just like any other employee.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-Factor Authentication is a security protocol that is quickly becoming the new standard of identity verification. Requiring users to provide multiple forms of identity verification (such as a password and mobile device request, for example) will provide better protection at all levels of access. This form of authentication will help add that extra layer of security that can make your data not worth the effort of stealing. Remember that hackers are often looking for the path of least resistance, and this can be all it takes to deter a potential attack.
Password Managers
Many of the biggest and most notorious corporate data hacks have been blamed on inefficient password protections. A strong password is one that is easy to remember but hard to guess. But that in and of itself is not enough protection these days. Using the same password across different devices, across personal and professional accounts, and even across different employee access levels can lead to very real problems when it comes to network security. The invention of password managers has changed the playing field for companies looking to increase the quality of their passwords without slowing down their employees. From storing to creating complex and difficult to hack passwords, managers are the smart and convenient way forward.
For more assistance keeping your remote workers as protected as possible, connect with the team of at Happy Faces today.
