Cybersecurity Tips for Working Remotely

With so many potential threats to remote work environments, it is crucial for organizations and remote employees to take steps to protect against security risks. Any weakness or vulnerability can be exploited by a cyber attacker and result in devastating breaches or malware attacks.

The following tips will help bolster security for remote work environments.

1. Establish Basic Security Practices

Businesses and organizations should create cybersecurity policies for remote workers to ensure that basic security practices are implemented. This includes installing antivirus software on devices that access the network, implementing policies for strong passwords, using encryption for sensitive data, accessing organizational networks using VPNs, and using cloud-based file storage and sharing so data is not stored on local devices.

Businesses and organizations must clearly communicate security policies regarding remote work and ensure that their employees understand and follow these policies.

2. Implement Vulnerability Management

Any vulnerability in the remote work environment can be exploited. Businesses and organizations should implement vulnerability management strategies to identify and address vulnerabilities to better protect the remote work environment from attacks.

3. Establish Zero-Trust Framework

A zero-trust framework is when users and devices are denied access to the organizational IT environment by default. Users must verify their authorization so that only authenticated users are allowed to access the network and the specific applications and data sets within the network necessary for them to do their jobs.

User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) can also be incorporated into the zero-trust framework. This technology analyzes and understands individual user’s behavior patterns using machine learning and data science so it can flag suspicious activity exhibited by specific users. UEBA can help identify compromised user credentials.

4. Ensure Proper Configuration and Access for Cloud Environments

It is important for cloud environments to be properly configured to allow secure access for remote workers. In fact, the main cause of security incidents involving cloud environments is misconfiguration.

Businesses and organizations must take steps to secure cloud environments and cloud-based systems to reduce security risks and implement user access controls.

5. Update Security Policies to Address Remote Work Security Risks

Businesses and organizations that have recently adopted remote work or a hybrid work model must update their security policies and procedures to address risks associated with remote work. This can include managing access to the organizational network and chat platforms and disabling access for those who leave the company.

6. Encourage In Person Connections

Businesses that have remote and hybrid workers should encourage their employees to meet in person, so they can get to know each other on a more personal level and build relationships. This not only makes the bonds between coworkers stronger, but also helps employees better recognize when they are being targeted in a phishing attack by someone posing as a colleague.

7. Additional Tips for Remote Workers to Bolster Security

• Use approved devices: Remote workers should only use devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones approved by their employer to access the network.
• Use VPN when required: Businesses and organizations may require remote workers to use a VPN to ensure a secure connection when accessing sensitive files or information.
• Don’t click unknown links: Remote workers should never click unknown links or trust emails or messages that look suspicious, even if they appear to come from colleagues. The safer course of action is to contact the sender to verify if the email or message is real.
• Protect devices: Remote workers must protect their devices by never leaving them unattended or revealing the passwords to get into the devices.
• Use trusted networks: Public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots are not always secure. It is important for remote workers to connect to trusted networks.
• Update router software: Remote workers should update the software of their routers and create a strong password to keep their network protected.
• Create strong passwords: All passwords should include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to increase their strength. Passwords should also never be shared online. If a coworker needs a password, it is best to tell them over the phone instead of through an email or message.
• Use multifactor authentication: Enabling multifactor authentication adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access
• Use email encryption: Emails containing sensitive information should be encrypted to protect against hackers.

Update devices: Devices should be updated regularly to ensure that they are running the latest version of operating systems and anti-virus software. Regular updates also help improve the performance of the devices