There was a time when working from home was considered a luxury. However, due to the current pandemic, it has become a necessity for employees.
Even though businesses are starting to function at normal levels, there are other kinds of threats that are making the rounds. One of which is the cybersecurity threat. During these uncertain times, there is a high risk for your business to be exposed to cybercriminals who could take advantage of you and your employees.
That’s why it’s vital to be aware of your home office security and the potential threats that are lurking around. By following the best cyber practices for working remotely, almost all of these threats and risks can be mitigated.
Here’s what you and your staff can do to have a cautious work from home security policy.
#1 Invest in an Antivirus Software
Cyber attacks could open your business and employees to various online threats such as trojans, worms, viruses, email phishing scams, malware, spyware, ransomware, DDoS attacks, and other kinds of breaches.
Investing in comprehensive antivirus software is one of the most effective ways to prevent cyber attacks. The reason being, antivirus suites are designed to offer automatic remote working security against a multitude of threats.
What’s more, they run discreetly in the background to ensure optimum protection while you and your employees work towards ensuring the smooth functioning of your business.
#2 Ship Webcam Covers to Your Employees
The next coming weeks and months are going to be filled with teleconferences and video calls that will need the use of your webcam. What you need to be aware of is that webcams are prone to hackers who can gain access without permission. Moreover, if sensitive documents are lying around, hackers could view them through the webcam and compromise privacy.
If you and your employees make use of external webcams, advise them to unplug it when not in use. However, if the webcam is built-in, you should go the extra mile of using and giving away webcam covers to your employees.
They are available in various shapes, colors and sizes to suit your needs. They are also extremely easy to install and most have an adhesive layer that can fit around the webcam.
#3 Ensure Passwords are Strong & Secure
One of the most overlooked and the easiest way to ensure cyber protection when working from home is by strengthening your passwords. You also need to make certain that you have excellent password protection across all your devices. For a strong and secure password, follow the below guidelines:
- All devices and apps must be password protected
- Passwords must be strong, unique and long
- Ensure that your passwords are at least 12 characters
- They must be a blend of symbols, numbers, lowercase and capital letters
#4 Secure Home Wireless Network
Another simple way to guarantee security and safety while working from home is to reinforce the security of your home Wi-Fi network. Also, do make sure that your staff receives this information as well. Listed below are some easy steps to enhance Wi-Fi network security and prevent forced entries:
- Create a Strong and Unique Password – Go to your router settings, enter your username and then change your password to a strong one.
- Change Your SSID Number – This is your wireless network’s identity. While changing don’t use your DOB, name, or home address. Come up with something hard to guess.
- Allow Network Encryption – You can find this under security settings that are located in your wireless configuration page. Opt for WPA2 if your hardware is newer. It shouldn’t be older than 2006.
- Limit Access to MAC Address – Each device that connects to your wireless network has a MAC address. If you are aware of the address of verified devices, you can add them to your router’s settings. This way, only the added devices can gain access to your network.
- Upgrade Firmware – Ensure that you have the latest version of the firmware. This will guarantee that you have the newest software patches and security. Contact your wireless network provider for the latest releases.
#5 Implement a Centralized Storage Solution
You can make your business rely on servers and cloud storage. You also need to make sure that your employees are familiar with utilizing this storage solution. This way, even if your organization has a security breach and all local files are stolen, destroyed, or lost, you still have a backup of vital documents. This method will also ensure that your files are secure and they will be protected by the firewall of your centralized storage solution.
#6 Don’t Overlook Email Security
During this period, emails will most likely be the primary source of communication between you and your colleagues and employees. However, a lack of email security can leave doors open to cybercrimes. These are some of the steps you can incorporate to prevent attacks and protect email accounts:
- Ensure that your emails are accessed securely through your organization’s VPN. This will ensure that you have an encrypted network that gives access to authentic users.
- Use appropriate passwords.
- Flag unfamiliar emails as external.
- Ensure employees know about phishing scams and the importance of not clicking on shady links.
Conclusion:
We hope you have gained some deep insights and solutions to tighten up your security and prevent online attacks. However, online security is just one aspect of ensuring the smooth functioning of your business. Other areas need equal attention as well.
The next coming months for big and small businesses are going to be tough. Organizations will have to find new ways to adapt and survive in the current COVID economy. If your business is going through certain challenges during these turbulent times, then we got you covered.
From customer retention to brand awareness and smart business strategies, our team of marketing experts is here to help your organization adapt to the new normal and ensure that it thrives. Get in touch with us today and let’s start planning out your next successful marketing campaign. We look forward to hearing from you!