In a world where many offices were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, business owners and executives found that remote and hybrid work increased productivity, not to mention that remote workers also significantly reduced overhead costs.
Access to remote work increases employee well-being, productivity, innovation and inclusion. It increases innovation by 63%, work engagement by 75%, organizational commitment by 68%, and 93% of employees are more likely to say they feel included.
Alison Zimmermann for lse.ac.uk
However, running a remote business can also come with drawbacks, and that may not be what you think.
Using remote workers could increase a company’s chances of a cybersecurity breach.
An estimated 58% of employees ignore cybersecurity policies, while 39% of employees admit they are unlikely to report a workplace security incident.
Ellie Gillard for TryHackMe
So how do you ensure your remote employees work safely in this new environment?
Here are 6 ways to maintain your remote company’s cybersecurity…
What awaits you in this article:
1. Create a cybersecurity policy for remote workers to follow
The first step in protecting company data is ensuring that all of your employees follow proper data protection protocol. Employees are often the root cause of security problems because shortcuts are often used when setting passwords and protecting data.
Remote workers may assume they are logging into a system from a secure environment, when in reality they are leaving the door wide open to criminals.
A well-thought-out but easy-to-understand cybersecurity policy outlines everything your team needs to do to stay secure when working remotely. Your policies should include that your team uses strong passwords for their accounts and that they log in to services with a remote access VPN.
With a remote access VPN, your team can securely access the resources they need from a shared workspace, a coffee shop, or their own bed. As long as they are connected to a VPN server, their traffic is encrypted and even if their network changes, their IP address remains the same.
NordVPN for remote execution
Your cybersecurity policy should also specify which applications, programs, resources, and tools are safe for your remote workforce when handling private business data.
More about secure network connections
Accessing an unsecured Wi-Fi network is one of the most common ways for businesses to encounter a security breach.
Unfortunately, many remote workers have turned to using standard Wi-Fi connections, 5G smartphones, and home routers to connect to the office. These services are not always as protected as we think, and the security of company data suffers as a result.
The easiest option for companies looking for better network protection may be to implement VPNs. If you ask your employees to use VPNs, ensure they have a direct and secure way to connect to the company network and access important information.
Make sure the VPN you choose covers all levels of encryption important to your team.
2. Qualify your systems and data security team
For the members of your team who help build your systems and protect your data, advanced cybersecurity training like TryHackMe’s state-of-the-art Red Team Hacker Academy is an absolute must.
TryHackMe’s Red Team training goes beyond penetration testing. Your team will learn how to conduct successful red team operations and challenge defense capabilities by mimicking the actions of a cybercriminal. They emulate malicious attacks, maintain access, and avoid detection during red team assessments. This route is suitable for senior positions in the industry and is a great opportunity to challenge and advance your team’s skills.
Ensuring that one of the key teams in your organization brushes up on some of the key topics is critical to securing your company’s data and systems. Help your team help your organization stay on top of threats and developments and carry out its responsibilities to the best standards.
Provide your team with structured learning paths and hands-on, self-paced training to upskill in real-world environments with guided, goal-oriented tasks and challenges. Use TryHackMe’s pre-built courses or create your own tailored to your team’s needs.
How to Get Into Cybersecurity – TryHackMe
3. Consider using password managers to simplify account security
Password security is another important aspect of running a secure business in the age of remote work. Unfortunately, the average person’s ability to remember many different passwords for many different applications is limited.
The result is that employees use repetitive passwords. Guilty.
While you can go some way to inspiring your team to choose more secure passwords, a password management solution could be a safer and even easier option.
Password managers allow team members to access various tools with just one set of credentials. This means they only have to remember a single code – This must be a self-evident solution.
4: Implement two-factor authentication to further reduce risk
As I explained above, a password manager can help make your remote team’s accounts more secure – but we know that passwords still only provide a single layer of protection. Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) could be a fantastic choice for companies looking to strengthen the security of remote teams.
2FA helps by adding an extra layer of security when logging into a secure account. Think about services like PayPal that require you to enter a code on your phone or call you before you are allowed to access your account. Or Xero working with the authentication app or insisting on a code that needs to be retrieved from a backup email. 2FA is a great solution, so even if someone finds out your employee’s password, it won’t be enough to let them access their account.
Multi-factor authentication is becoming more and more advanced. Today it is possible to develop strategies that use a password and biometric data to secure services. Your employees could even protect their data with a fingerprint or retinal scan.
5. Consider purchasing cybersecurity insurance to protect yourself in the worst-case scenario
Cyber ​​insurance helps cover the costs your business might incur following a cyberattack or security breach. In addition to protection against hacker attacks or an attack, financial losses caused by the failure of your company website or the failure of your Internet provider as well as the costs of legal defense in various cases can also be covered.
Of all the risks we cover, cyber is by far the fastest growing – and it shows no signs of slowing down. As companies of all shapes and sizes become more dependent on the digital world, they are increasingly exposed to the risks of doing business in this world. Many smaller companies feel that they are too small to be of interest to cybercriminals, while larger companies may have false confidence in their cybersecurity. The reality is that everyone is vulnerable and the impact of an attack can be enormous.
Theo Pastuch, cyber insurance specialist at Macbeth
6: First, understand the basics and build on them
While the expanded offerings discussed above could be a smart step forward for many companies (not just those with remote teams), it’s worth noting that the basic fundamentals of cybersecurity are still very important. And the basics can often be overlooked.
Data encryption
Encryption software for your video conferencing and messaging software is a must in the remote world.
Don’t forget about antivirus, anti-malware, phishing protection and firewalls
It’s also worth making sure your employees have up-to-date security systems on all the devices they use, such as: B. Antivirus software, anti-malware and phishing protection. There are even firewalls that cover everything from tablets and computers to smartphones and other mobile devices.
Keep mobile apps up to date
Remember, mobile device management tools can also help your team leaders ensure that apps and security services on your team’s devices stay up to date.
These services allow you to remotely implement patches, remove dangerous data from an employee’s hard drive, and even blacklist certain apps.
Avoid compromising your remote company’s security by following these tips
A cyberattack occurs approximately every 39 seconds, yet fewer than three in 10 companies have a formal cybersecurity policy.
Emma Sivess for TryHackMe
Using remote workers doesn’t mean you have to compromise data security. Once remote workers are fully educated about the importance of working securely and you have the right tools, training, policies and protocols in place, you can enjoy all the benefits of a remote business without having to worry about security threats.
