The coronavirus has changed the business landscape in more ways than one. For starters, a lot of employees started to work from home rather than in the office. Then, a multitude of other preparations followed. Video communications have replaced real-life meetings. Dressing up for the office has turned into getting out of bed, and cybersecurity has shifted from corporate to private.
It’s not a far-fetched idea to think your home computer is less secure than your device at the office, not to mention your internet connection. When you’re working from home, you need to consider a lot of things. Besides protecting your data, you need to employ techniques for keeping the corporate information away from hackers or other unauthorized parties. In this article, we will look at the most common ways of protecting your device while working.
Increase in Scams Targeting Remote Employees
First of all, all employees need to complete cybersecurity training. While working at the office, they can quickly consult their colleagues about potentially dangerous emails they receive in their inboxes. At home, you might not have such a privilege. Your teammates might take longer to respond, and you are stuck contemplating whether the email is reliable.
During the COVID-19, phishing scams related to the virus started to emerge. Another batch of the newly created deceptive emails focused on employees that began working from home. For instance, hackers might target a specific company. Then, they will send out similar emails to a dozen of its employees, hoping that someone falls for this trick. However, if employees are carefully educated about cybersecurity, they should be able to detect potentially fraudulent emails. So, make sure to prepare your team for remote work. Schedule meetings with specialists and make sure that all employees participate.
Use an Antivirus
Phishing scams are not the only threats that lurk on the web. While you might think you’re well protected, you must understand that malware is getting more sophisticated by the day. Private and corporate information is confidential and protecting both of them from malware is essential. There are many different types of malware. Some might directly impact your data or ruin it.
Some hackers will ask ransoms for your data. That is why you need to protect your PC against malware with a state-of-the-art antivirus tool. This recommendation is especially relevant if you’re working from home. If you don’t have an antivirus, and your company has a corporate package, you might want to inquire about it. In fact, your computer back at the office might be safeguarded from such threats. However, if you are stuck using a personal device for work, you can contact your employer to request an antivirus tool.
Secure Your Network Connection
Sophisticated firewalls probably protect your work connection, but your home connection might be vulnerable. You’ll need to secure your Wi-Fi with an elaborate and complex password that consists of letters, numbers, and symbols. The more complex the password, the tougher your security will be. No matter how elaborate or simple your password is, you always want to write it down. Hence, you might consider using a password manager. When it comes to the password of your router, make sure to regularly update it.
Use A VPN
You’ve likely heard of VPNs in the past, and you might even know their purpose. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the tool that gives you a brand-new IP address and encrypts all web traffic. As a result, a quality tool will protect you from potential data breaches, keep no logs of your browsing, and offer seamlessly fast services.
Using a VPN on Windows or another operating system will greatly improve your immunity against cyberattacks. If you share ideas and important documents with your colleagues, you will need to guarantee that such communications cannot be intercepted. Not only will a VPN protect you, but it will also allow you to access a lot of geo-locked content and websites. This feature might be great for research you need to do for work. However, VPNs are best-known for their military-grade encryption. So, they will encrypt according to the latest industry standards and recommendations.
Final Thoughts
Working from home might be as comfortable as in the office, but it requires more security mechanisms. You don’t have to worry about your private information or cybersecurity at the office, but you have to do it at home. If you follow all of these tips carefully, you’re bound to have a safe, fun, and productive time while working from home. All of these measures are efficient and affordable, and you can contact your employer about the cybersecurity options they can supply.
