Working Remotely? Here Are Cybersecurity Basics You Need to Know

Working Remotely? Here Are Cybersecurity Basics You Need to Know Working remotely has become standard in today’s digital world, even prior to the global health crisis forcing us all to stay at home. Although there are definitely tons of perks to working remotely, one huge drawback is that you don’t have physical access to IT support. On that note, findings from Canadian HR Reporter estimate that over 71 percent of security professionals have reported a rise in cybersecurity threats as more people work from home. Without immediate access to their company’s IT team, remote workers have to exercise extreme caution to avoid potential data breaches or attacks. Below are some cybersecurity tips on what the average employee can do to protect themselves while working from home. Keep good password hygiene Changing up your password seems like such a small step, but there’s a reason why it’s needs to be repeated on a regular basis. Tech Republic maintains that good remote work hygiene consists of changing your passwords very frequently, and you definitely shouldn’t wait until you’ve fallen victim to a data breach. This is especially crucial for those who are accessing work applications on a non-work device, as not all of us have the luxury to work with two separate devices. Secure your home network You might think that your home network is secure enough to withstand a cybersecurity threat, but there’s nothing wrong with an added layer of protection. VPN services are rising in popularity, and BizTech Magazine notes that businesses who offer VPN services for their employees should consider deploying additional servers or increasing bandwidth capacity. Those who are self-employed can also simply invest in VPN subscriptions on their own. Update your antivirus Every laptop or desktop should have antivirus software installed on it, and this software should be updated regularly. Since cybersecurity attacks evolve on a daily basis, it’s crucial that your antivirus remains updated so that it can catch such threats. Although it isn’t always convenient to update your software whenever you get a pop-up, avoiding such notifications completely, will seriously compromise your device’s security. Don’t forget about physical backups Even though you should be backing everything up on the cloud to help prevent data loss, physical backups are also a good way to ensure your data (literally) stays with you. This is why amongst the selection of computers on Adorama, there are lots of additional peripheral devices such as storage disks and hard drives that are equally important in today’s climate. One of the biggest perks of a hard drive is that it comes with tons of storage, which can be useful as cloud backup solutions often require you to pay more in order to increase your account’s storage capacity. There are software options you can use to encrypt a physical hard drive, but don’t underestimate the benefits of going old-school and securing your drives in a secure part of your home. Backing up your data once a week is a good rule of thumb. Stay updated on current scams Attacks like ransomware and malware tend to evolve as hackers learn to bypass current security systems, so it’s good practice to read up on current tactics. The point isn’t to scare you away from using your computer, as it’s almost impossible to do anything without one. Rather than get anxious about the evolving world of cyber threats, use your knowledge as an opportunity to constantly secure yourself. Cybersecurity is often seen as an inaccessible and dangerous world, especially with the news reporting huge data breaches almost every week. While here at IT Now we understand the importance of relying on dedicated IT personnel as a way to keep business operations afloat, remote workers can also do their part in practicing good cybersecurity hygiene. Guest Post by: Amanda Patel