We live in an age when remote working and mobile working are no longer a far-off thought, but it is very much a reality many of us are living. There are many issues to be wary of when you work from home, however. For instance, you need to ensure your data is secure, your hardware is safe and out of harm’s way.
If you work for a company, speak with them about any protective measures they could help you with, as they may be able to offer you the software free from cost. However, if you are working for yourself, you will need to research and invest in the correct security measures yourself.
Keep your hardware safe
Having a dedicated space to work in is essential, especially if you have children or pets. While they will not damage your hardware on purpose, curiosity can get the better of them and accidents do happen.
Lock your home office whenever you leave the room, and if you are ever working outside the home, keep your laptop securely in your bag or in a locked space (if you are in a shared office space, etc.). No one should be able to see your devices and what you are working on.
Keep an eye on your Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is dangerous to use if you are using it for anything with substance. Perusing the web for fun can be fine, but if you can avoid doing so, don’t log into or use public Wi-Fi as it is vulnerable to malicious attack.
If you are working from home, you will want to ensure your Wi-Fi is safe and secure. Invest in a Home Network Security router that is designed to protect your internet-connected devices from cyber-attacks. This router will disconnect unwanted devices from your Wi-Fi network, notify you of any threats, and keep your data and identity safe and secure.
Set difficult passwords and rotate them
Setting a password that is difficult to guess but also easy for you to remember is a tall order. You shouldn’t have any passwords written down; however, our passwords are meant to be long and complex, with an array of words, capitalizations and numbers. To make matters even more difficult, you will want to reset a new password every month.
Rather than use any information that relates to you, use a combination of random words, numbers, and lower and upper case. This will make it much more difficult for hackers to crack.
Thankfully, two-step authentication is another way to protect your data. Be sure to utilize this as it can add an extra level of protection. Also, avoid auto-saving your passwords, and if you are worried about losing any devices, download Find My iPhone or AirWatch.
Encrypt your data
Cybercriminals will most likely head to your emails before trying anything else; they will try and gather sensitive information from your customers/clients by sending out phishing emails. Stop cybercriminals from accessing your sensitive information by encrypting your emails – doing so will disguise your emails. You can do this by downloading software such as Mimecast.
Having cyber criminals access your data leaves you vulnerable to being held at ransom, and even if you do pay them for the data to be returned, you have no assurance that it will be done so properly. Once your data has been compromised, it is difficult to build a trustworthy brand – we have seen many big name brands suffer from such security issues, and remote workers need to be more vigilant when it comes to keeping their information safe outside of the office.
Be wary of co-working spaces
If you ever work in a co-working space, then be sure to check reviews, the facilities, and ask about their security precautions. A good co-working space is more than having a desk, plug to charge your laptop and a comfy chair – it is about having storage cabinets, secure Wi-Fi and a good community.
Good co-working spaces will have an alarm and monitored security measures, a secure entrance so that members only can get in, secure internet, lockable storage space, and a community that watches out for one another. If you are working on a highly sensitive project, then choose a desk or space that stops people from seeing your screen. You should also clear your browsing history and stop your passwords from being saved.
Security is vital for anyone who works online or uses the internet for pleasure. There are many cyber criminals out there, eager to get hold of your data so that they can exploit it. Thankfully, there are measures that can be put in place. Be sure to keep up to date with your security systems and software and to be extra vigilant.
