The remote work revolution is well underway. With millions already working from home, more hybrid arrangements are available, and the digital nomad movement is gaining momentum worldwide. More people than ever are working remotely. While this offers unprecedented levels of freedom and flexibility, however, it also comes with increased risks in the form of cyber threats.
As a remote worker, your livelihood depends on your ability to protect sensitive data and ensure continuity in the projects you work on, so securing your remote environment should be an absolute priority. Here, we will outline some key practices that will help you to do just that so that you can truly make the most of the benefits that remote work has to offer.
1. Secure Your Home Network
The first step in protecting yourself online is to secure your network, that is assuming you have the ability to do so. If you are working from your own private home Wi-Fi network, then you can do this by ensuring that you are using security protocols such as WPA2, preferably WPA3, to encrypt the network. This will help give you stronger data protection and network access control to safeguard against unauthorized access.
Additionally, for added protection, you can set up an isolation network for your work, separate from your main home network for other purposes. This will enable you to more easily identify suspicious activity and take the appropriate steps should you need to.
2. Utilize a VPN
As a remote worker in the security landscape of today, you need to have a virtual private network in your digital tool kit. The supplies if you’re working on your own private network, especially if you’re working over open networks in public space places like coffee, shops, libraries, and shared workspaces.
This technology will help to protect you in two key ways. Firstly, it will divert your Internet connection through a server In another location, enabling you to mask your IP address when you go online. This will enable you to browse anonymously and protect yourself against IP tracking, which cyber criminals use to perform reconnaissance mount attacks targets.
Additionally, a VPN will route your Internet connection through a secure tunnel, applying strong encryption protocols to your traffic in the process. This will render your data decipherable should third-party seek intercept transit, and help protect sensitive data from unauthorized access attempts when collaborating online or accessing proprietary resources remotely.
3. Practice Good Password Management
Password hygiene is always important, but for someone who works remotely, they’re especially critical. Avoid using simplistic passwords of ones which are easily guessed. Instead, opt to use passphrases wherever possible. In instances where this option isn’t available to you, create complex passwords that incorporate a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. Additionally, it’s essential to use a unique password for each online service you use, as this will help to contain issues in the event that one should be compromised.
Practicing proper password hygiene and management can be challenging, so it may also be worth your while to utilize a password manager application. This will allow you to create unique passwords and store them locally in a single location, meaning you can continually update your passwords for optimal protection without needing to deal with the inconvenience of forgetting them and needing to do constant resets.
4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
In addition to using strong passwords and passphrases on your accounts, multi-factor authentication (MFA) can also provide you with a vital additional layer of security. This will require you to authenticate yourself via another method, such as an SMS code, app prompt, or confirmation email, in conjunction with your password before logging in. This means that should a threat actor get their hands on your password, they will be unable to access your account using that information alone.
Best practices dictate that you should utilize multi-factor authentication wherever possible, but work-related services such as email accounts, cloud storage facilities, and collaboration and project management tools should be priorities. By using MFA to secure these services, you can effectively reduce the risk of disruption to your work.
5. Update Regularly
Last but certainly not least, remember to conduct regular updates. It may sound simple, but keeping all of your software and devices updated can play a critical aspect in ensuring strong cybersecurity. With the threat landscape constantly shifting, software providers frequently release updates that include patches of potentially exploitable vulnerabilities, so having the latest version of an application installed could be what saves you from a potentially damaging data breach.
As a rule, it’s advisable to have automatic updates enabled on devices and software that offer this functionality, especially in the case of your OS and antivirus applications. This way, you can ensure that you have the best possible protection against identifiable threats like malware or ransomware. Additionally, it’s a good idea to set your antivirus to conduct regular automatic scans of your system, just in case anything might slip through the net.
Embracing Secure Remote Work
Securing your devices, applications, and connections is essential to protecting your data and ensuring seamless continuity in your remote work. By securing your home network, using a VPN, and embracing sound practices, you can effectively mitigate cyber threats and engage in better, more secure remote work.