(Newswire.net — June 3, 2020) — The unexpected outbreak of the novel coronavirus has led to a series of restrictions all over the world. The critical prevention measure is self-quarantine. So millions of people are staying at home to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. The period of social distancing began in early March and can continue for months into the future.
During this difficult period, many people have started working from home. Those who have already worked remotely don’t feel much of a difference. But the workers who are new to this idea face a significant challenge. A part of this challenge is to ensure security while working from home, as hackers now exploit these new opportunities.
The Risks of Working from Home
People who are not used to working from home face issues such as distractions, lack of productivity, or difficulty focusing. But the biggest problem for both workers and employers is the security aspects of remote access.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA for short, has alerted businesses and organizations about the potential spike in cybersecurity threats during the pandemic.
Most people are new to working remotely. Some know only the basics of online security. And some don’t even know that much. It is easy for hackers to exploit this lack of knowledge.
Small and medium-sized businesses are most at risk during this challenging time. Only a low percentage of small companies have updated their remote work guidelines in the last couple of years. Many have been caught unprepared by this crisis. But giant corporations are more likely to respond with proper measures and safety procedures.
If your business has a target on its back, you have to act fast to prevent any damage.
How to Stay Safe 101
The key to preventing things from going downhill is to take immediate action, especially when it comes to security.
Here are five easy ways to improve corporate security while working remotely:
1. Raise Awareness
It is difficult to tackle an issue if the entire team is not aware of its cause and origin. It’s critical to raise awareness about the security risks tied to remote work. Explain different ways hackers attack accounts and distribute malware. Teach employees of ways to protect their home network. Then you can encourage workers to pay attention to specific details such as password security and link inspection. If they know what threats they face, they can defend themselves better.
2. Use a VPN
A virtual private network comes in handy during remote work situations. Its use is essential when dealing with confidential files and projects. By connecting to a VPN server (here’s a VPN free trial if you don’t have a subscription yet), you encrypt all your incoming and outgoing data and traffic. It makes confidential data unreadable to any third-parties even if they somehow manage to snatch it in transit.
3. Discuss Common Mistakes
Raising awareness about potential security threats is crucial. But don’t forget to mention that the actions of each person can lead to security breaches too. Common mistakes such as poor password management or falling for a phishing email can put an entire organization at risk. Discuss the most common mistakes and what everyone can do to prevent them. Practical tasks can help a lot, too, especially when it comes to recognizing email scams and social engineering.
4. Update the Remote Work Guidelines
If your business has never had a chance to offer remote work opportunities to its employees, now is the best time to start doing so. But don’t forget to update your remote work guidelines to meet the latest cybersecurity standards. A clear guide can help employees stay on track with their work without compromising security. For instance, your instructions can enforce using a virtual private network or sharing only encrypted files.
5. Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Finally, consider setting up two-factor authentication systems for all administrative login pages. With 2FA in place, hackers and third parties can’t access data and accounts without correct authentication codes. It increases the overall security of the network and its content.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that the Covid-19 outbreak is going to have severe consequences on the economy and life in general. As of right now, no one knows how long the global quarantine and social distancing are going to last.
With that said, people could be working remotely for months. It is crucial to stay focused and organized, as well as being aware of potential cybersecurity threats.