Three Tips to Keep Your Remote Employees Safe from Cyberattacks 

Smartphones, laptops and tablets are especially susceptible to cybercriminals and can endanger company security. Arm your staff with information on how they can keep online data safe from cybercriminals. 

1. Public Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks

Connecting to public Wi-Fi on company-owned devices when working remotely is hazardous to company security for several reasons.

Public Wi-Fi Networks

Public Wi-Fi networks are a common way hackers acquire information. These networks are usually not secure, making it easy for hackers to intercept data, log-in credentials and other sensitive information. Hackers also use unsecured Wi-Fi networks to spoof a public Wi-Fi network and disperse malware. 

Wi-Fi Phishing

Wi-Fi phishing is when someone creates a web page that perfectly mimics an actual page on a website. A good example would be your company’s email sign-in page. Your employee lands on this legitimate-looking page and types in their email and password, which are now in the hands of the hacker. 

Home Office Wi-Fi Network

Your own home office Wi-Fi may put your company security in danger! An unsecured home office Wi-Fi network can be accessed through IP-enabled devices like thermostats, security cameras, wireless video equipment, etc. Unsecured IP-enabled devices are easy to hack. Once the intruder has access, they can breach the network and gain access to both your company and personal sensitive data. 

Solution: Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Require remote employees to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN enables users to securely connect to your business, even if the available Wi-Fi network is questionable. Still prefer that your employees forgo using Wi-Fi connections at all? You can provide them with a personal hotspot.

2. Hold Regular Cybersecurity Training

Employees are likely to encounter a fake web page, infected attachment or malicious email at some point while working for you. Whether or not they engage with malicious content is dependent upon their knowledge of such security threats. Regular employee trainings that show examples of imposter pages and phishing emails can drastically reduce security risk. Teach your employees how to spot a scam and bring them up to date on the newest cybersecurity threats. If you don’t have someone on staff who is qualified to provide this type of training, look for an affordable outside expert who can. 

3. Secure Local Resources 

Local resources such as operating systems, network firewalls, software and applications must be kept up to date to protect sensitive information such as customer data, administrator credentials and intellectual property.

Steps to Secure Local Resources: 

• Ensure all company-owned devices have the most current software versions. 
• Set up automatic software updates. 
• Preinstall malware scanners and a VPN on employee-issued devices.  
• Enable local firewalls on all company-owned devices. 
• Provide licenses for anti-virus and VPN software to employees who use their personal devices for work.

Working remotely offers flexibility and many opportunities for both businesses and their employees. With some planning, you can ensure that your cyber information is safe so that your staff can enjoy the benefits of working remotely.