With remote work increasing every year, companies have adapted to the needs of their workforce, allowing employees to work from home or on the go. While this trend is beneficial in many ways, it also brings new risks and challenges for companies looking to protect their remote workers from cyberattacks. To keep remote workers safe online, it is important to implement a variety of strategies that can help mitigate cyber threats and prevent data loss.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most effective strategies for keeping remote workers secure:
- Encourage strong password usage and two-factor authentication. Remote workers are often more vulnerable to cyberattacks due to the fact that they have less direct access to corporate resources than on-site employees. One way to help protect them is by requiring strong passwords for all company accounts, including those used for email, file sharing, and other software. In addition, using two-factor authentication can provide an extra layer of security by requiring a second login step, such as receiving a one-time code via text message.
- Invest in cyber security training and education programs for your remote workers. To ensure that your remote employees are knowledgeable about cyber risks and able to identify potential threats, it is important to provide regular cyber security training and resources that cover topics such as phishing emails, mobile device safety, and online privacy best practices.
- Develop clear policies around data access and usage. Since many remote workers are freelancers or part of the gig economy, it is essential to have clearly defined rules regarding which employees have access to what data and how they should handle it. This can help mitigate the risk of unauthorized data access or cyberattacks such as ransomware, which is becoming an increasingly prevalent threat to companies of all sizes.
- Invest in network security hardware and software that helps protect sensitive data. In order to keep your remote workers’ data safe, it is important to invest in network security hardware and software that can help detect and prevent cyberattacks. This may include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and anti-malware software.
- Provide remote workers with access to a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN can help protect your remote employees by encrypting their internet connection and ensuring that their data is not being accessed by unauthorized individuals. This is a critical step for companies that handle sensitive data or have employees who work in countries with high cybercrime rates.
In addition to the strategies mentioned above, companies can also benefit from working with managed information technology (IT) services providers. These providers offer a range of cyber security and IT support services that help businesses take control of their IT operations and protect against cyber threats.
Now that you know more about how to keep remote workers safe from cyberattacks, it’s time to put some of these strategies with the support of an IT services provider into action. Doing so will help you create a more secure environment for your remote employees and reduce the risk of data loss or cyberattacks.
