Security is a key factor for businesses to consider when they are allowing remote working. This article unfolds the security practices that businesses should easily implement to significantly improve their online protection.
Since Covid-19 closed doors for many businesses, the rise of remote working became one of the breakout factors of that period. Despite it becoming so much of a commonplace amongst businesses, it is still a new practice for many. Therefore, the need to explain the demand for specific security solutions is paramount. This is because remote working is its own highly specific model, and the technology that businesses require to use on-premises unfortunately cannot be transferred to a remote setting.
Many IT support London providers will confirm that the remote companies that they have worked alongside. It is important for businesses to implement the correct security practices – thankfully many of them are not only affordable, but very easy to implement. Some businesses can already set them up.
1. Password Management
One of the key components to consider is the use of passwords in a business. It may not be such a big issue for businesses that runs a local network within the office, due to the robust firewalls and security that is implemented in their networks to ensure that malicious actors could not break into it. However, with remote working, employees can potentially access company accounts and systems on less secure networks. Therefore, the need for robust and diverse passwords is paramount.
If users are struggling to remember many of their passwords, a password manager is a good tool to have. Allowing an app like this will create a safe space for storing passwords, which ultimately alleviates the worry, whilst still adding another layer of protection.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication
Elaborating from the point above, multi-factor authentication should be installed for all accounts and apps, as this will only add yet another layer of protection to accessing accounts and systems. This means that despite the password, users will need to further present a one-time unique code that has been generated from an authenticator app, which gets sent to a designated email address or phone number. According to a managed IT services London provider, this point and the previous one, are the two easiest steps in improving remote work security, with the least effort contributed on behalf of the business.
3. Virtual Private Networks
As previously mentioned, on-premises businesses usually have local networks that allows them to isolate company data from the wider internet. However, remote workers typically use Wi-Fi for work, which means that they are potentially sending sensitive company data over the internet. This could essentially become a risk as there are many types of cyberattacks – such as Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack. A MITM harnesses the vulnerability of in-transit data – date which gets sent between two addresses – to intercept and steal valuable information from businesses.
These risks can be avoided if remote workers can procure and install a virtual private network on their Wi-Fi router. This will add an additional layer of privacy and security, so that if remote users are required to send data somewhere, it is hidden from cyber-attackers.
4. Cloud Content Controls
Other than Covid-19, the cloud is one of the most prestigious technologies that has enabled businesses to start to promote the idea of remote working. If a business uses cloud storage, it enables them to store and share files without endangering it, through the exposure to the broader internet. Businesses that have been provided a service by Microsoft 365 Consultants would reiterate that the risk with cloud and remote workers, is that they might download content from the company cloud onto unsecured personal devices. We can see that the number of ‘Bring-your-own-devices’ have increased rapidly since remote working has become more popular.
Fortunately, most cloud platforms allow users to open and edit documents in the cloud. Therefore, limiting the need to download the content onto personal devices. This characteristic solidifies the importance of cloud working and the importance of safeguarding documents and content. To further enforce the practice, businesses can place content controls on files in the cloud, so that they cannot be downloaded. Considering all the above practices, it is paramount for businesses to implement these measures to further safeguard their content and data.
