Half of us are still living in the remote work phase, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. Others might be working remotely because of freelancing posts. However, whatever the reason may be, and even though working remotely comes with its own set of perks, how much do you know about protecting yourself online? This is especially to be considered while handling official files from outside the office.
Cybersecurity measures today for online protection should be considered as a child’s guardian. Without the guardian, the child is not safe. Similarly, with the rise in cybercrimes and online threats today, cybersecurity measures need to be taken seriously – especially if you’re working remotely.
Working from home comes with its own set of risks, even if you’re connected to a personal internet connection. It’s even worse when you’re out and about, connecting to free public Wi-Fi’s.
So, what can you do about that? Now that you don’t have a whole IT team backing you up, there are still a few simpler ways to take matters into your own hands. The first step is always determination to learn about newer ways to maintain cybersecurity and the rest will follow.
Ways to maintain and strengthen cybersecurity while working remotely
Before jumping directly into how you can maintain cybersecurity practices for remote work, let’s first try and understand the kinds of threats to security you’re up against.
When working from the office, your device is mostly well-guarded with top-of-the-line antivirus, a VPN software, firewall and a whole team managing it. the environment completely changes at home.
While working remotely, you experience poor internet connections, or don’t have access to the best software – mostly because you never had to deal with it on your own.
With the rapid increase in cybercrimes, there’s no saying to what degree online security and protection can be maintained at home. In fact, the situation gets worse when you’re working from a coffee shop, the airport, the bus station and connected to a public free Wi-Fi.
Luckily, this guide will highlight some ways you can adopt to strengthen cybersecurity while working remotely.
1. Using a VPN software
One of the most basic and popular security tools is a VPN. Of course, if your company is offering you access to a business VPN the situation changes. However, if they aren’t, it’s best that you subscribe to a premium VPN that is big on security and offers numerous servers. Another added bonus would be that the VPN supports multiple devices and multi-device connections.
2. Get an antivirus
There are a whole bunch of websites we visit or apps we use while using official devices. Sometimes, these platforms are filled with malware or links that contain a large number of viruses or spyware. Using an antivirus and running regular updates is one of the best things for online protection. Run regular updates and check to see if there are any viruses or malware that creep on to your device.
3. Don’t click on random links that lead to phishing attacks
If you’ve heard about phishing scams, there are many kinds of it. With that said, phishing scams are seen through various emails, texts, calls and more. Sometimes, emails and texts can seem very realistic, asking you to click on so and so link, or to provide official and personal details. Never be too hasty to address them.
4. Strong password protection
While choosing a password for your device, media accounts or apps, make sure they’re strong enough and won’t be broken. Never add any personal details like your name, birthday, address, favorite pet etc. That is easy to break.
5. Two-Factor Authentication
Other than strong passwords, two-factor authentication is another thing to consider. If ever someone does access your passwords and tries to break into your device or apps, you’d immediately be alerted through alternative means like a text or email.
6. Lock your devices
Whichever device you’re using for official or leisurely activities, always lock your device when you’re not around. Even if you get up for a short bathroom break, never leave your device unlocked. It can take just a few seconds for someone to access it. If you’re setting a password limit timer, make sure you set it for a few seconds rather than minutes.
To conclude
And that’s a wrap! You now know some of the simplest and most effective ways to maintain cybersecurity for remote work. There are of course many more methods to consider, but so far these basic steps can take you a long way.
