Security is paramount for organisations that allow remote working. What security practices can business implement with ease to significantly boost their protection?
In a post-Covid world, remote working has become as commonplace as anything; but given that it is still a new practice for many, it is important to expound upon the need for specific security solutions. This is because remote working is its own highly specific model, and the technology that businesses used on-premises cannot be transplanted to a remote context. We discussed this with a number of IT support companies London based remote companies have worked with in the past. According to them, it is important for businesses to implement the right security practices – fortunately, many of them are not only affordable, but very easy to implement. Some businesses may even have the capabilities to set them up already.
1. Password Management
The first thing to look at is the use of passwords in a business. For organisations that ran a local network in the office, this may not have been such an issue, because they would also have had robust firewalls implemented in their network to ensure that malicious actors could not infiltrate it. However, with remote workers potentially accessing company accounts and systems on less secure networks, the need for strong and diverse passwords is even more important. Every account a user accesses for work should have a unique password – and each password should be have a high entropy, meaning it is harder to guess.
For users that find it difficult to remember lots of complicated passwords, using a password manager – a type of app for creating a storing passwords – can not only alleviate worries, but add yet another layer of protection.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication
Building on the previous point, to add yet another layer of protection when accessing accounts and systems, multi-factor authentication should be setup for all accounts and apps. This means that, in addition to a password, users will need to present a one-time unique code generated from an authenticator app, or sent to a designated email address or phone number. According to companies providing IT support Financial Services organisations use, this (and the previous point) are the two easiest steps in boosting remote work security, with little effort on the behalf of the organisation.
3. Virtual Private Networks
As mentioned previously, on-premises businesses typically have local networks that allow them to isolate company data from the wider internet. However, remote workers typically use Wi-Fi for work, meaning they are potentially sending sensitive company data over the internet. This can be a risk due to certain types of cyberattacks – such as the Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. A MITM takes advantage of the vulnerability of in-transit data (data getting sent between two addresses), in order to intercept and steal information.
An easy way for such risks to be avoided, remote workers should procure and install a virtual private network on their Wi-Fi router. This will add a layer of privacy, so that if remote users have to send data somewhere, it is hidden from cyber-attackers.
4. Cloud Content Controls
The cloud is one of the central technologies that has allowed businesses to start enabling users to work remotely. If an organisation uses cloud storage, it allows them to store and share files without endangering it (by exposing it to the wider internet). According to businesses that have provided IT support for Healthcare organisations, the main risk with the cloud and remote workers, is that they might download content from the company cloud onto unsecured personal devices. The number of BYOD devices has increased greatly since remote working became more wide-spread.
Fortunately, most cloud platforms allow users to open and edit documents in the cloud. So, instead of download content onto personal devices, remote workers should simply work on documents in the cloud. To enforce this practice, organisations can place content controls on files in the cloud, so that they cannot be downloaded. A PEO Spain Company can help you recruit the best marketing talent overseas.
