8 Security Tips For Remote Work In 2022

Meta Description: Besides saving time and money, remote working boosts productivity. However, it has its own set of issues. Here we discuss 8 cyber security tips for employees.

It’s only been two years since the rise of the remote workplace, but firms and employees alike face new security dangers. When employees are dispersed across the globe, many of them work from home, this creates a lot of security risks.

Many industries and enterprises are still recovering from the pandemic, despite the fact that it has been largely eliminated. Work from home is still a popular option for many people, since they choose to avoid the daily commute.

Besides saving time, money and effort, remote working boosts productivity. However, remote workers have their own set of issues. There are eight major issues that businesses confront when using remote labor.

Hence, this post will discuss 8 cyber security tips for employees.

1. Acknowledge SSL Certificates’ Importance

An SSL or Secure Sockets Layer certificate is also important for the remote workers to know so that they don’t end up visiting unsafe websites.

PKI, or the Public Key Infrastructure, is used by SSL certificates to encrypt data being sent between a web server and a web browser.

A padlock appears in front of the URL if the website is using SSL, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure encryption.

Using a secure padlock indicates that the website’s connection is protected against third-party interception or MITM attacks. Hackers can easily access the data if there is no safe encrypted connection between the two.

2. Install Antivirus Software

Ensure that all work-related devices are equipped with up-to-date antivirus software. Ransomware, malware, trojans, spyware, & DDoS attacks can all be prevented using antivirus software.

To make your choice easier, dozens, if not hundreds, of antivirus software platforms are available. Antivirus software platforms that are more advanced can protect against common attacks, and many of them are updated automatically to keep up with the latest threats.

To keep their employees safe, business managers must maintain a work from home security checklist and provide them with access to a complete antivirus solution.

Even if you work from home as a freelancer, you can protect yourself with free antivirus software. Before deciding on a service provider, do your homework.

3. Web Application Firewalls

WAF is an excellent solution for remote workers who are concerned about security. There are security plugins called firewalls that reside between your site and the internet.

To interact with you, a third party must first go through the screening process. If something questionable is found, they will quickly block the communication connection and provide you a report.

Despite the fact that most devices come pre-installed with firewalls, it is still necessary to make sure that they are activated.

4. Data Backups

A cyberattack can strike at any time. Ransomware assaults, technology failure, human mistake, and more can all cause you to lose data. In circumstances like this, having a copy of your data is a lifesaver. However, where should you keep your data safe?

Physical damage or theft of hard drives is a possibility. Why would you want to put your trust in them?

In our opinion, cloud-based data backups are essential. Because they are more secure than hard disks, cloud storage makes it possible to access data from virtually anywhere. In addition, don’t only keep data in one place; instead, spread it out among numerous locations.

5. Make Sure your Wi-Fi and the Rest of your Network are Secure

Regardless of whether or not you use your employer’s equipment, you are responsible for protecting your home network. Improve the security of your home office network by securing it. A password-protected Wi-Fi network is an excellent place to start.

If not, go to your router’s settings and make the necessary changes. In order to access your router’s settings, locate the router’s IP address and type it into your web browser.

The default password for your router should also be changed. As Wi-Fi and network security holes, default passwords can be exploited by hackers. The sooner you do it, the better. The router could be used by an attacker to gain access to your gadgets and online traffic.

6. Set Clear Remote Work Policies

Work regulations governing remote employees’ access to work data and systems should be clearly defined and codified. Google’s mobile operating system finally has a built-in screen recorder in Android 11, and there are dozens of third-party apps that can do the same for older devices. The use of VPNs or password managers could be required for distant workers.

The best part is that a lot of businesses already have one. More than 93% of companies had procedures in place to allow employees to work from home.

Data encryption, VPN use, employee security training, separating professional and home devices, and password policy are all common features of remote work policies.

In order to keep everyone informed, organizations must offer regular required security instruction for remote workers. The majority of businesses hold training sessions twice a year.

7. Weekly or Biweekly Updates

Software updates can be a nuisance, but they are very necessary for the safety of your device and your data.

Criminals continue to use a variety of methods to attack software. They are attempting to undermine their security in order to gain access to the user data that is stored in the database of the software.

Tweaks in the kind of software upgrades are released by developers to combat this problem. It’s important for CMS platforms to be updated so that users are always using the most recent versions.

Because older versions are more vulnerable to intrusions, you should always keep your software up to date. In order to protect the privacy of both employers and employees, regular software updates are required.

8. Secure Video Meetings

Video conferencing tools like Zoom and Google Meet are essential for remote enterprises. Furthermore, using these platforms can pose certain security risks.

For instance, Zoom has had concerns with trolls and harassers gaining access to sessions that they were not asked to attend. By fixing security weaknesses, the platform abolished “Zoom-bombing.” Similar concerns have been faced by many other platforms.

Conclusion

You now have a better understanding of the substantial problems firms and employees face owing to these eight security tips for working remotely.

Employees and business owners both benefit from working remotely, but security concerns must be taken into consideration. These basic practices can help prevent data breaches by instilling a culture of online alertness among remote workers. It’s also vital to have ongoing security training programs.