How to Stay Safe While Working from Home

• Working from home may seem convenient and productive, but cyber security threats still exist.
• Remote workers need to ensure their workspace at home is secure to protect their organisation's sensitive data.
• Cyber security measures can help remote workers protect themselves and their organisation from cyber threats.

Working from home can be convenient and productive, but cyber security threats exist even in the remote workplace. Today's cyber attacks are much more sophisticated than just a few short years ago and tend to be more focused on gaining access to steal sensitive data.

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To protect an organisation's data breaches and cyber security threats, remote workers must ensure that the workspace at home is secure and just as safe as at work. With cyber-security measures like regularly updating software, avoiding malicious software, and creating strong passwords, remote workers can protect themselves and their organisation from cyber threats.

Three ways remote workers can reduce cyber security risks

1. Create a secure workspace.
2. Maintain digital security.
3. Maintain office best practices.

This article looks at how home workers can put these methods into action to protect themselves and their organisations from cyber attacks and prevent security threats.

Creating a Workspace that is secure

Security should be at the forefront of your mind when creating a workspace. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Choosing a workspace with minimal distractions, background noise, and outside interruptions is important but also be sure the space doesn't have any onlookers who can catch a glimpse of your computer screen.

Be sure to know what hardware, software, and resources are actually essential for your role, So you are not easily deceived into visiting a malicious website.

Store physical documents in a secure location, such as a locked filing cabinet; only those who need legitimate access should be able to access company documents. Shredding no longer-needed documents containing sensitive information is also a must.

Maintain Digital Security

Here are some ways to increase your digital security when home working:

A computer, your organisation provides should only be used for work purposes and never used by anyone else.

If you're using your personal computer for work, create a separate user account with a strong and unique password. This account should be solely reserved for work and not shared with anyone else.

Home routers usually come with a default username and password, which is public knowledge. Further, secure your internet connection by changing this to a unique password.

Maintain Office Best Practices

When home working, it is vital to maintain the same high standards as used in the office.

Familiaris yourself with your organisation's work-from-home policies. For example, suppose your organisation has a specific cloud service provider. In that case, you should be aware of any security guidelines for accessing documents stored in the cloud and who to contact if there are problems.

Update all your passwords as regularly as your organisation requires and follow your organisation's best practices when setting passwords. Also, ensure they are unique and complex and stored in a password manager.

Think before you click on any link! Being alert and sceptical of potential phishing attacks is vital; seemingly innocent email requests for sensitive information may be trying to steal data. Tactics, including social engineering, mean cyber attacks may appear to be believable conversations.

Keeping security a priority while working from home will ensure the safety of yourself, your coworkers, customers, and your organisation. Cybercriminals are looking for a way into your organisation's network to complete their cyber-attack, install malicious code, and exploit any weaknesses. 

It is everyone's responsibility to prevent security incidents and data breaches. Any business's employees act as the last line of defence against cyber security threats, and following the tips outlined above will help employees be effective.

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