The pandemic forced everyone to work from home and made organizations realize how productive working remotely can be. Now, even as the conditions improve, this trend is here to stay as many organizations and employees are preferring to work remotely. But with newfound convenience come new risks.
Cybersecurity threats have also increased significantly in recent years. Hence, staying secure while working remotely is essential to protect your organization’s critical data from hackers.
Tips to Secure Data When Working Remotely
Here are six tips to keep your data secure when working from a remote location.
1. Keep Your Programs and Systems Updated
Operating systems and programs are regularly updated to improve security. Keep a check on the latest updates for your OS and programs and ensure that you’re running the latest versions. The best way to avoid missing out on an update is to turn on automatic updates and install new updates as soon as you get notified.
2. Use a Good Antivirus Software
Antivirus software is a must to protect your system from cybersecurity threats. Ensure that you have an activated and updated antivirus software running on your computer at all times. It can help detect and prevent malware attacks and protect your company’s crucial data.
3. Learn to Identify and Prevent Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are increasingly common and are targeted at employees. Therefore, it is important for you to learn about these scams to prevent such attacks. Phishing attacks cause you to compromise your credentials and personal details by asking you to log in on a suspicious page. They are also deployed through malicious links and attachments. Avoid clicking on any unnecessary links or attachments and ask your employer for access to cybersecurity training and a way to report phishing emails.
4. Avoid Sharing Personal Information in Messages or on Social Media
Avoid sharing your personal information on emails or social media as it could also be a type of phishing scam. If any page asks for your personal information, ensure that it is a legitimate request. You should also not share any pictures regarding your job tasks including the remote work equipment to avoid accidentally sharing any critical data.
5. Use Protected Wi-Fi and Network Security and Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi
Keeping your home network secure is essential for your personal and professional safety. Protect your network to improve the security at home and enable a password on your Wi-Fi. Make sure that the password you use is not the default password but take out time to set a difficult password for your Wi-Fi that cannot be guessed easily. Hackers are often aware of the default passwords and can gain access to your devices through the router.
6. Secure Your Privacy with VPN
When using a personal computer for remote work, secure your privacy with VPN and encrypt your data. It helps you protect your web traffic from getting accessed by other people. You should use VPN to improve public Wi-Fi security as well.
