While remote work is a new reality for many companies today, the shift to remote work has been unfolding over the last decade. In fact, in 2017, there were 8 million remote workers in the U.S. So, it’s safe to say that investing in support for remote workers is a smart move for most companies.
One major aspect of supporting your at-home workers is cybersecurity, and it’s a major concern for newly-remote workforces. With workers scattered across the city (or even country), your company’s data is scattered, too. This makes it harder to manage and lockdown sensitive information.
Let’s dive into the topic of cybersecurity for remote workers so that you can implement solutions. When your remote workers’ are operating with water-tight security, the whole company can move forward with confidence.
Securing Wi-Fi Connections
Remote workers using unsecured Wi-Fi connections present a serious security risk for your company. Public Wi-Fi connections open up the opportunity for hackers to more easily install malware and obtain login information or other sensitive information. You may think of public Wi-Fi connections being in coffee shops, but many home Wi-Fi connections aren’t secure, either.
There are a few different ways in which you can combat insecure Wi-Fi connections for your at-home workers. These include:
VPNs: Virtual Private Networks
A VPN is a type of connection used to provide network security, both with public and private connections. VPNs are reliable and trusted by major corporations to keep their data on lockdown. Additionally, your workers can enjoy complete privacy with a VPN, as it will switch out their IP address with a different address from the VPN provider.
Both free and paid VPNs are available. For your company’s use, it’s wise to find a reliable paid VPN to avoid data or session caps and location limitations, as well as pesky advertisements. Downtown Managed Services can set up dependable VPNs for your remote workers.
Travel Routers
To secure your remote employees’ Wi-Fi connections, you can advise that they use travel routers that can plug into an ethernet jack. This is a good solution for workers who can use ethernet connections.
Security Training For Your Remote Workers
Providing information about best practices for remote work can ensure that your company is informed and on the same page. So, provide cyber training sessions for your remote employees to lay out security tips and expectations.
In these training sessions, you can include information on how to identify phishing efforts and other forms of cybercrime. At-home workers will need to be aware of these hacking techniques to avoid security breaches.
Be Proactive About Technical Difficulties
Real-time monitoring and remote sessions with IT staff will support your remote workers and prevent major issues before they arise. It can be hard as a remote worker to deal with technical difficulties, so make sure that your staff has the resources they need to complete their work.
