Protecting your personal and business data when working remotely

1. Working on a home device has heightened risks

Not every employee or business can afford to have entirely separate computers for home and work, so many people are now working remotely using their own PC or personal laptop. And it’s highly likely that and individual’s own device won’t be as secure as their workplace one. Company firewalls and antivirus software create barriers which prevent unauthorised access – but one very real risk is that a tracking virus infiltrates the less secure home computer. It then sees the login details being used to access work systems which then becomes a very easy way for hackers to simply walk in and steal confidential information or cause havoc.

Home computers are also often shared by other family members, however your employee has little control over the websites others visit or the links they click whilst online – again a heightened risk that malware is inadvertently downloaded onto the computer. 

Bear in mind too that this prolonged period of home working means that employees don’t have the opportunity to ask a colleague at the next desk if they are unsure about the validity of an email or link they’ve received. And they’re probably less inclined to call the IT team or a manager to check as that feels rather formal and they may have concerns about bothering others with something seemingly trivial. 

If at all possible, encourage your staff to err on the side of caution and check with IT if they’re not sure about the security of their home working environment; IT can also advise on the best antivirus software to download for up-to-date protection. And if employees are having issues with accessing systems, make sure they do get the right support otherwise they might be tempted to use their own ‘workarounds’ which can then lead to further risk.

2. The dangers lurking on social media

With so little opportunity to see others at the moment, it’s important for employees to continue to feel connected with others and avoid feeling too isolated. That is understandable, but it’s also vital that your staff understand the risks whilst using social media, and that they take active steps to ensure they protect their personal data.

Phishing scams are common on social media platforms whereby seemingly innocuous links and landing pages are used to lure in the unsuspecting user. It’s easy to feel safe and protected at home chatting online and it’s precisely then that we are all at our most relaxed and trusting.

Employees should beware of the information they reveal. A fun, friendly ‘quiz’ which includes questions about childhood pets, schools attended, favourite colours and maiden names might seem like a welcome diversion but it’s also sharing answers to common security questions for all kinds of online services such as bank accounts for example.

3. Good password management is everyone’s responsibility

Even before remote working became so widespread, large swathes of people were blurring the lines between personal logins and passwords and those used for work systems. It’s not uncommon for individuals to use the same passwords for multiple services which means it only takes one to be compromised and then every service is at risk.

Now is an ideal time to encourage employees (again) to set up different passwords for each application. These need to be ‘strong’ i.e. not recognisable words, 8 or more characters long, including a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. The ideal of course is an entirely random password, however these are impossible to remember. Some companies advise using a password manager service with a built-in password generator which can be helpful.

Remind your employees that everyone must be responsible online and that good password management is a necessity not a ‘nice to have’. Especially now.

 

In these difficult times – every business needs to protect itself and its employees. The technology experts at Access Group are working hard to offer support and resources to help businesses. For more information on remote working, phishing, and the other technology related issues you are currently facing, please contact us. We would be delighted to help.