The pandemic created a massive shift of thought and location for employees all over the world. The current problem created a future threat to the security of workforces everywhere, making many question if they were as secure as they could be from threats online, both at home and abroad. Many companies’ workforces are working totally from home, separated from the safety net of I.T. departments and other helpful means of protecting valuable company property and data and backups from attack.
Teach the Importance of Avoiding Bad Links and Spam
With advances in technology and communications has come advances in scamming methods. One of the most important things to be wary of is phishing, which is when a hacker attempts to get a victim to click a fake link which will then lead them to a site to give away their information. Phishing is actually not difficult to spot, as phishers often make intentional spelling and grammar mistakes in their e-mails in order to parse out the people who are gullible enough to fall for their tricks.
It’s important to impart to your employees that each and every link should be verified and only clicked on if it’s legitimate. Legitimate links will be found in e-mails with a company header and there should be no question as to the authenticity of the e-mailer, nor the message. If an employee believes they’re being sent a phishing link or malware on a work computer, they should contact the I.T. department immediately.
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Increase the Number of Work Computers for Your Employees
Private security seems to have come a long way in the last few years, but it’s still dangerous for employees to access work functions through their own laptops or CPUs. Computers and other electronic devices found in people’s homes will not have the necessary malware protection to justify use for company purposes. To counter this problem, it’s a smart idea to issue your employees laptops and, in extreme cases, phones to prevent malware and protect company secrets and projects.
If your employees use their own devices, their malware will inevitably attack your network, meaning costly data compromises and other cyber threats. However, giving them access to clean and professional devices will mean they never have to log onto the company network through their own home devices. The devices you issue should come equipped with antivirus software to protect from hackers and other malware, which will keep your information safe.
Secure Wi-Fi is Always a Must
Although devices may be safe and virus-proof, there’s still the problem of the network your employees are using. You should ensure each of your employees have access to a secure Wi-Fi access point to log onto the network and do any necessary online work. Wi-Fi signals are often broadcast past employee’s homes and into the streets, meaning they could potentially reach other households.
No businesses wants other random people to access their data and other confidential information, so close the backdoor fast with secure wi-fi capabilities. To do this, you can use stronger encryption and more complex passwords, hide employee network names, and install a firewall which can be enabled and disabled to your liking.
VPNs Work Wonders, as Does Two-Factor Authentication
In addition to securing devices and wi-fi networks, it’s important that your company invests in a VPN service. This is one of the strongest ways to protect your at-home workforce. VPNs are “virtual private networks;” they act as private and encrypted tunnels which transfer directly to your I.T. network. This private network is a great way to alleviate the hassle of outsiders trying to look in and steal your information, and work on a company-wide and individual level.
With two-factor authentication enabled, your employees will still need to call in to the office to be able to access the network. This step is crucial and makes hacking by outside forces far more difficult. Two-factor authentication is being employed with more frequency in many businesses and university campuses to protect students and staffs alike.
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