It’s no secret that remote work has become increasingly commonplace, providing employees with a slew of benefits, including better work-life balance, increased flexibility, and improved productivity. With all the positives, it can be easy to ignore some of the very real challenges this type of working arrangement poses: increased security risks.
Remote working can leave employee systems — cloud storage platforms, shared drives, and Internet connections — more vulnerable to things like phishing scams and cyber-attacks.
In fact, according to Businesswire, 81% of global organizations experienced increased cybersecurity risks during COVID-19 due to a shift to remote working. This proves just how critical remote work cybersecurity and protecting sensitive data are to overall remote work security.
Before we dive into the 22 tips that can help your team strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure and ensure remote work remains safe, productive, and secure, let’s get a better understanding of why enhanced cybersecurity is so important for a remote workforce.
Keeping Your Systems Secure: The Advantages
Remote work has become an integral part of the modern work landscape, with more and more companies expanding beyond their corporate HQ and hiring employees from all over the world.
In such a highly connected, digital world, this new way of working enables companies to expand internationally and tap into a wide range of diverse perspectives and highly skilled talent. It has also enabled opportunity equalization across the globe and increased flexibility for workers who enjoy the enhanced work-life balance a remote working environment provides.
While this flexibility has brought numerous benefits, it has also highlighted the critical need for robust cybersecurity processes. Below are the key advantages of implementing better cybersecurity processes in a remote work environment.
Protecting Sensitive Data
One of the most significant advantages of implementing better cybersecurity processes in a remote work environment is the protection of sensitive data. In a remote setting, employees access and handle confidential company information from various locations and devices. Improved cybersecurity measures help safeguard this data from unauthorized access, breaches, and cyber threats.
Mitigating Data Breaches
Data breaches can have severe financial and reputational consequences for a company. Implementing strong cybersecurity processes significantly reduces the risk of data breaches. Robust firewalls, encryption, and access controls can prevent unauthorized access and data leaks, ensuring that sensitive information remains confidential.
Safeguarding Intellectual Property
Many businesses rely on Intellectual Property (IP) as a competitive advantage. Protecting intellectual property is essential whether it's proprietary software code, research findings, or creative content. Enhanced cybersecurity measures can prevent IP theft and unauthorized access, safeguarding a company's most valuable assets.
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
Numerous industries are subject to strict regulatory requirements regarding data security and privacy, for example, Europe’s GDPR. Implementing better cybersecurity processes helps ensure compliance with these regulations, reducing the risk of legal penalties, fines, and reputational damage.
Enhancing Productivity
Efficient cybersecurity measures can enhance employee productivity by creating a safe and secure work environment. Employees who feel that their data and work are protected can focus on their tasks without concerns about potential security threats.
Facilitating Remote Working
Remote work relies on digital tools for communication and collaboration. Better cybersecurity processes allow teams to collaborate seamlessly, sharing sensitive information while maintaining its integrity. Secure communication platforms ensure that information is not intercepted or compromised during transmission.
Minimizing Disruptions
Cyberattacks and security breaches can disrupt business operations. By implementing robust cybersecurity processes, companies can minimize the risk of these disruptions, ensuring that remote work can continue smoothly.
Protecting Against Phishing and Social Engineering
Phishing attacks and social engineering schemes are prevalent in the digital world. Better cybersecurity processes include education and training to help employees recognize and respond to these threats, reducing the risk of falling victim to scams.
Safeguarding Against Ransomware
Ransomware attacks can encrypt a company's data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Enhanced cybersecurity measures, including regular backups and effective endpoint security, can prevent ransomware attacks and minimize their impact.
Reducing Costs
While an initial investment is required to implement better cybersecurity processes, it can ultimately lead to cost savings. The costs associated with data breaches, legal issues, and reputation damage can far exceed the expenses of cybersecurity improvements.
Fostering Customer Trust
Customers want to know that their data is safe when they interact with a company. Robust cybersecurity measures build customer trust and confidence, potentially leading to increased business and brand loyalty.
Protecting Against Insider Threats
Insider threats, where employees intentionally or accidentally compromise security, can be as damaging as external threats. Enhanced cybersecurity processes include user behavior monitoring and access controls to protect against insider threats.
Maintaining Business Continuity
Cyberattacks can disrupt business operations, potentially leading to downtime and financial losses. Improved cybersecurity processes are essential for maintaining business continuity, ensuring remote teams can work without disruptions.
Adapting to Evolving Threats
The threat landscape is constantly evolving, with new cyber threats emerging regularly. Better cybersecurity processes are adaptable and can evolve to address these new challenges, keeping a company's defences up to date.
Strengthening the Company's Reputation
A strong commitment to cybersecurity protects the company and enhances its reputation. Customers, partners, and investors view companies known for their robust security measures more favorably.
Meeting Employee Expectations
Employees increasingly expect their employers to provide a secure work environment, especially when working remotely. Meeting these expectations can lead to higher job satisfaction and employee retention.
Reducing Legal Liability
In the event of a data breach, companies with strong cybersecurity measures may face reduced legal liability compared to those with lax security practices. This can save substantial legal and financial costs.
Safeguarding Remote Access
Employees access company resources from various locations and devices in a remote work environment. Robust cybersecurity measures protect these access points, ensuring that remote work remains secure.
Preventing Identity Theft
Cybercriminals often target personal information, which can be used for identity theft. Effective cybersecurity processes protect employees' personal data, reducing identity theft risk.
Staying Ahead of Competitors
Companies that prioritize cybersecurity often gain a competitive edge. Customers and partners are more likely to choose businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting sensitive information.
Keeping Systems Secure: 22 Tips
1. Provide Internet security software with all company laptops. If employees use their own personal devices, provide them with a license for malware and antivirus software to maintain security on their personal hardware.
2. Provide cybersecurity training for employees so they can have a thorough understanding of best practices when it comes to protecting their systems. For example, your cyber security teams can deliver a workshop on creating a strong password, encouraging the use of secure Wi-Fi networks, and training employees on how to quickly and effectively identify phishing scams.
3. Implement the use of a VPN for remote employees: VPNs, or virtual private networks, can be a useful second layer of protection to provide added security when an employee is working remotely. A VPN helps secure remote workers’ home Wi-Fi networks to protect your company’s data.
4. Encourage password protection in all video meetings: Virtual meeting software, like Zoom or Skype, has provided a quick and easy way for remote teams to connect. Unfortunately, these platforms are highly susceptible to random attacks, including unsolicited interruptions and data breaches. Password protecting your next video call ensures only those with the unique meeting ID and/or link and password can access it.
5. Enable multi-factor authentication, which can be a great way to add an additional layer of protection to your remote employees’ accounts. For example, two-factor authentication will prompt users to answer a specific security question or receive a special code sent via text message which makes it that much harder for a hacker to break in.
6. Implement a Zero-Trust policy so all users will need to be authenticated, authorized, and regularly evaluated before being able to access applications and data associated with the organization. This is a more extreme measure but may be necessary depending on the size and scope of your company.
7. Run regular software updates to ensure that all software and operating systems have the latest security patches to address vulnerabilities.
8. Encrypt sensitive data, both in transit and at rest. Utilize encryption tools to protect files and communications.
9. Implement strict access control policies, limiting access to sensitive data to only those who require it for their job. Use role-based access controls to manage permissions effectively.
10. Secure cloud services: If your remote teams use cloud services, choose providers with strong security measures in place. Encrypt data stored in the cloud and ensure proper access controls are established.
11. Prepare an incident response plan that outlines the steps to take in the event of a security breach. Ensure all team members are aware of this plan and know their roles.
12. Conduct regular security audits and testing to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your infrastructure. Utilize vulnerability scanning tools to proactively address security flaws.
13. Choose secure communication tools and encrypted messaging platforms to protect sensitive discussions and data sharing.
14. Establish clear remote work policies that outline security requirements and expectations for remote team members. Ensure that all remote workers adhere to these policies.
15. Secure your file-sharing processes: Encourage the use of secure file-sharing platforms with encryption and access controls to protect shared documents.
16. Monitor and log network traffic in real-time, maintaining detailed logs for analysis. This helps detect and respond to anomalies quickly.
17. Send regular security updates to the team: Keep your remote teams informed about the evolving threat landscape and the latest security measures.
18. Work with trusted cybersecurity vendors to ensure that you have the most up-to-date security solutions in place. Research and properly vet any vendors you are considering working with to ensure you are getting the best possible product.
19. Conduct regular security drills and simulations to test the response capabilities of your remote teams in case of a breach. In the same way, you would conduct fire or hurricane drills to keep your office of employees safe in the case of an emergency, you will want to do the same for your software to reduce the risk of cybersecurity attacks as well as have well-established protocols in case you find your systems under threat.
20. Comply with regulations: Ensure that your cybersecurity practices comply with relevant industry regulations and data protection laws. For example, you may not be aware that The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the strongest privacy and security law in the world.
21. Implement secure collaboration tools that facilitate remote teamwork while maintaining data security. This can include subscription-based services and platforms like business accounts for Zoom or Microsoft where files can be locked and meetings can be password protected.
22. Ensure continuous improvement: Cybersecurity for remote working is an ever-evolving field and should be constantly evaluated and iterated to ensure it is working as best as it possibly can for your organization’s unique needs.. Continuously assess and update your security measures to stay ahead of emerging threats, which involves regular system and software updates as well as internal reviews to see what’s working and what’s not.
Looking for a safe and secure way to hire and pay your remote employees? Borderless uses bank-grade security protocols and highly sophisticated data encryption tools to keep your information and transactions secured. You can rest assured your data is safe and sound, whether you’re paying a local contractor or working with a team of permanent employees across the globe.
Speak with our experts today to find out how to protect your remote-first organization from cybersecurity threats.
Disclaimer: Borderless does not provide legal services or legal advice to anyone. This includes customers, contractors, employees, partners, and the general public. We are not lawyers or paralegals. Please read our full disclaimer here.
