Our cybersecurity team picked some useful and easy tips for protecting your sensitive information, even if you have a remote employee or are one. 

1 – Be careful with public or home connections. 

We are continually connecting our devices anywhere, coffee shops, hotels, libraries, and many others. We are so used to it that we get frustrated when we go to a spot without free Wi-Fi. It is convenient for all of us and can make work more exciting. Your employees can go to their favorite coffee shop to start their morning and get some work done. The problem with that is they might be exposing sensitive business-related information. Public Wi-Fi is a wide-open door to hackers. You can check more about it on our post about how to protect digital identity. 

The problem with public Wi-Fi may also happen at home. The use of an unsecured connection makes the information on the device, and the data entered online susceptible to be stolen. 
 

Some people don’t change their Wi-Fi passwords or router identifier (or Service Set ID – SSID), using the default from manufacturers. Hackers know those default IDs, and they use it to have access to the network and to change the router settings. Adversaries can also set up a fake Wi-Fi connection or hotspot to steal information.  

The solution to this would be to set up a virtual private network (VPN) and including it in the company policy for working remotely. A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and the remote network, offering privacy to use the internet without being tracked, monitored, or having data collected and stored. A VPN protects your IP from potential hackers and identity thieves. 
 

2 – Watch out for physical security. 

Physical security is also part of cybersecurity. It is necessary that the employee not only protects the device, but the information accessed in the device.  
 

A lot can go wrong working outside the office, for example, the device can be stolen, and with it, all the data accessed on it. The employee can leave their device alone to use the restroom, and sensitive information can be seen. Your employee should always keep an eye to make sure no one is overseeing or filming sensitive information they are accessing.  

The solutions are training the employee to take security measures and using a password-manager from which they can copy the password. Also, don’t forget the back-ups, an external drive your remote employee takes everywhere, probably isn’t the best place for that. 

3 – Don’t mix personal and work. 

Ideally, employees should not use their own devices for work. Their device could be compromised, exposing crucial business-related information to malicious third parties.  

It is hard to ensure that employees protect their devices as supposed to. And that they take measures such as regularly installing updates, run trustworthy antivirus scans, block malicious sites, use secure Wi-Fi, and others. 

4 – Make it clear to your employees by having a policy. 

Don’t assume it is evident to your workforce that they should use strong passwords or choose a secured connection or HTTPs. Attackers take advantage of human mistakes. The best way to protect sensitive information is training who has access to it. The organization should have a policy emphasizing security-related information. 

For tips for protecting digital identity, click here. Follow us on Linkedin and Twitter to get our updates. 

Article written by Juliane Verissímo - Marketing Department of VisionSpace