While work-from-home security has always been a concern for companies that allow employees to contribute remotely, the COVID-19 pandemic brings additional urgency to take the issue seriously.
With many employers temporarily closing physical offices or limiting on-site staff, the number of telecommuters has skyrocketed. This spike means more users than ever connecting to company networks and accessing sensitive data from home computers. The situation also produces an abundance of first-time telecommuters—a group that may never have previously thought about work-from-home security.
Cybercriminals know a golden opportunity when they see one, so companies must step up their game. Is your company doing all it can?
Work-from-Home Security Measures For Companies
Proactively Communicate Policies
Since the popularity of remote work has grown in recent years, many businesses already have specific guidelines on hand about work-from-home security. If such a document exists, make sure to share it with all employees ASAP and encourage people to ask questions.
Areas frequently covered in work-from-home security policies include:
- Rules regarding the use of personal devices
- Approved security software and minimum system security requirements
- How to choose strong passwords and how often to change them
- Unlimited job posts
- Low, flat membership fee
- Access top-level remote advice
- Unlimited resume searches
- Reach the right candidates
- And so much more!
- The importance of using virtual private networks (VPNs)
- Warnings about the danger of public Wi-Fi
- Actions to take to prevent company devices from being lost or stolen
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Also, be certain to provide contact information about who to call for technical assistance or to report anything unusual. Quickly alerting IT experts to potential problems may limit damage in the event of a breach.
Consistently Update Your Company’s Work-from-Home Security Measures
Employers must remain vigilant on their end about work-from-home security. Actions can include:
- Installing quality antivirus software and keeping it consistently up-to-date
- Fully patching VPNs
- Installing a monitoring app to scan home networks for vulnerabilities
- Ensuring solid firewall and passcode protections are in place for accessing company systems
- Limiting access by determining who on staff needs only cloud-based services and email vs. the entire internal network
Some companies strengthen work-from-home security by instituting two-factor authentication methods. Instead of just a password, an additional step is required to assure that the person trying to gain access is a legitimate user.
Stay on Your Toes
Generally, employees are not out to cause any harm. However, the newness of working from home and the uncertainty surrounding this unprecedented global health crisis leave people vulnerable to making mistakes.
Issue regular, proactive reminders such as:
- Be alert to phishing tactics and phony emails. Don’t open file attachments from unknown sources or click on links.
- Be incredibly leery about anything asking for personal or company information.
- Watch activity on your devices. A family member can unintentionally pass along a virus that makes its way onto a connected office network.
And while everyone wants to stay up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 developments, remind people to seek information from reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The internet is seeing an upsurge in phony coronavirus-related websites, apps, and tracking tools that spread both misinformation and malicious software.
Don’t Skip a Beat
If you’re looking for more employer resources during the coronavirus pandemic, browse our emergency preparedness archives below.
LEARN MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS >>>
Photo Credit: bigstockphoto.com
A version of this article was originally published on January 4, 2016.
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