The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many changes in business organisations. While activities of some organisations have come to an abrupt end, some have found new life through remote work. While the concept has been positive, organisations around the world need to become aware of the dangers involved with remote work and take appropriate measures to protect company data.

Use Business VPN

A Virtual Private Network or VPN works by rerouting your internet traffic through a private network of your choice. This creates a layer of anonymity that protects your device and makes it difficult for hackers to identify it on the internet. Sometimes internet users deploy VPNs to access geography-limited content by masking their true access locations. In the same vein, business VPNs can instruct your computer to operate as if you are working from the office. This allows remote workers access to the same level of security available in the office at home.

A research by OpenVPN suggested that 68% of employees admitted that their businesses increased use of VPN due to COVID-19, while another 29% said they started using VPNs for the first time.

A VPN offers workers a secure and private access to the internet. A business VPN goes a step further by giving staff remote access to private networks necessary to completing their work.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

As a remote worker, using a public hotspot exposes you to risks. Without a firewall between your device and the WiFi router, hackers using the same hotspot can find a way into your device. This could lead to the theft of sensitive data vital to the functioning of your company.

To work securely and privately, it is best to use personal Wi-Fi either at work or on the field. Make sure you use a password to avoid access by random users in the neighbourhood. Encrypted remote connections like SSH and HTTPS are also available in many instances, and they provide a layer of protection.

Protect Remote Devices

Remote work can sometimes blur the line between hobby and work. If a remote worker browses unsafe websites on the same device used to access the corporate network, it exposes the organisation to potentially bad actors. To stay safe, organisations need to have clear security protocols. For instance, employers can make it clear whether or not workers are allowed to use their personal devices for office work. Where this is allowed, there needs to be a consistent policy on what security software needs to be installed.

The same security protocols should address the use of thumb drives and regular data backups.

Use Enhanced Email Protection

Staff should be encouraged to deploy advanced email security like Proofpoint Essentials to block malicious phishing emails. In the same vein, two-factor authentication should be enabled for all user accounts be it for email or login access to the corporate network. All of these could be integrated into a Remote Access Policy applicable to everyone on the network.

To cut down on security lapses, organisations should offer cybersecurity training to their staff. This helps create a security-conscious environment even among staff involved in remote work.

Limit Remote Access

Another way to ensure the security of your network is to carefully delineate data access privileges. Staff on a certain level might only require access to their work emails as well as communication tools in order to be effective. Giving them access to parts of the network they don’t need could open your organisation up to vulnerabilities. At the same time, it is important to log every network access so it is easy to track individual footprints as and when they occur.

Use Cloud Applications

It goes without saying that cloud applications are critical to the success of remote work. Geographic distances can limit a worker’s access to some company resources unless they are accessible via a mobile application or web-based service. For small organisations, using cloud applications can allow them to out-source cloud security to businesses better equipped to handle security matters. Whether it comes to cloud storage or other forms of cloud computing, enlisting the help of corporations with the right skill-set can safeguard an organisation’s data and allow workers to unlock remote work capabilities.

Conclusion

Remote work is the new normal. It allows organisations to continue offering services to clients even when congregating at the same place isn’t possible. To ensure network security, organisations need to establish a Remote Access Policy and also deploy cloud applications while creating a hierarchical access to sensitive data.