Working from home is here to stay, as employers and employees alike are recognising the benefits of allowing flexible working in the workplace. As businesses are still getting to grips with their WFH policies, employees are getting comfy in their home offices (or kitchen tables!).
We’ve been here before, logging onto Zoom meetings, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Google shared drives, the list goes on! This new life of hybrid and remote working has become convenient with many benefits, particularly now we can access and share almost anything from the comfort of our own home, but as we take advantage of this accessibility we must also adapt our approach to cybersecurity.
With users no longer protected by company firewalls, the number of cybersecurity threats are on the rise. It is now up to businesses and their staff to ensure they are working at home safely. The risks to a business from a cyberattack is exponential. From the loss of data to the costs incurred from operational disruptions and business practices to the reputational damage caused by the loss of customers’ data. In 2020 McAfee reported an annual loss to the global economy as a result of cyberattacks at $1 trillion, a 50% rise since 2018, and this has continued to increase.
Here at Computer Care we can help you and your employees build a robust defence against hackers and malware by offering a combination of ongoing security services, testing and using products designed to raise your security levels. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you prevent attacks on you and your business.
In the meantime, we have listed below some top tips on security whilst remote working.
1. Install a good antivirus
Possibly one of the most important things you can do to support your online safety is to install a comprehensive antivirus software. It will run in the background protecting your computer whilst you carry on with your day-to-day tasks. Our advice is to make sure it is a good, reputable software and ensure it is kept up to date to protect you from new threats. We use Trend Worry-Free Anti-Virus software to protect all your endpoints against data loss, viruses, malware, trojans, worms, spyware and ransomware. And if an action is required against a threat, our service desk will pick it up and resolve the problem for you. You can read more about our anti-virus service here.
2. Secure your Wi-Fi
Don’t rely on the password your router came with, change it to a strong and unique password that would be difficult to guess or hack. It is such a simple and easy way to secure your network so it wouldn’t hurt to change it regularly. It is also worth noting that if you change your SSID (the name of your network), not to use your name, address or anything that could easily identify you, such a pet’s name.
3. Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and identity online, making it harder for hackers to steal your data. Most remote workers will be connecting to the company’s VPN but if not, there are plenty of VPN options including a standalone VPN where you download a piece of software onto your device, or browser extensions that can be added onto most web browsers. If you use several devices, you can use a VPN router. It is worth noting however, that you must change your password regularly as it is still possible for third parties to hack into a VPN.
4. Password protect your devices
We know the likelihood of someone breaking into your home to extract information from your laptop is very slim, but have you considered the threat from your spouse and kids? If they hop on your computer for a quick and innocent google search, they could click a link that compromises your security and therefore your device. If you can, try and keep your work separate from the family, and enable automatic locking!
5. Don’t ignore updates
We know what it’s like, you’re in the middle of writing an important e-mail or you just don’t have time to sit and watch your computer re-boot. Enabling updates can be a real faff – but let us assure you cyberattacks are much worse. Check for updates regularly, and if your computer wants to do an automatic update, let it, go get that cup of tea you’ve been meaning to make all morning.
If you’ve found these tips useful and want to find out more about how we can keep your business secure, take a look at the services we offer.