Working from home. It’s cozy. It’s comfy. You don’t have to get up as early and you still get work done. It’s great, right? Well, maybe not for your company’s cybersecurity.  

It’s 2022 and a lot has changed in the past few years. The pandemic required us to work away from our offices and many companies have implemented working from home into their business. 58.6% of the workforce in the United States is working remotely. While remote working can lead to higher productivity and a better work-life balance, it can also open your company and employees up to cyberattacks, unless you’re prepared.

We’ve recently communicated the importance of two-factor authentication and the importance of cybersecurity from the perspective of our owner, Vince Gremillion, who is one of the foremost authorities on the topic.  For reference, please see here and here

Now, back to the issue where we will outline concerns and what to do to protect your company and employees.

What are the threats?

Working online poses a threat no matter what. Whether it is working from home or in the office, there are always attacks lurking around the corner. The difference, however, is the network you or your employees are connected to when working remotely. 

The network in your office, more than likely, has antivirus software, firewalls, and automatic backup, which makes it more difficult for malware or cyber criminals to access your data. 

Residential networks do not usually have that protection. Additionally, some employees may choose to work from a coffee shop or public place where the wifi is free, open, and inviting to criminal elements. There are strangers everywhere, and public Wi-Fi is one of the easiest ways to increase your chance of a security breach. 

Lucky for you, we have some tips to keep you, your team, and your company safe from cyber threats. 

  • We’ve said it once and we’ll say it at least a million more times —STRONG PASSWORDS

You should not use your birthday, hometown, pet’s name, or anything that could easily be figured out. Hackers can use social media and your internet activity to find personal information and decode your passwords.  The goal is to trip up anyone attempting to hack into your accounts. Use a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters in your passwords, or consider using a random password generator. 

Another important way to keep your passwords protected is to use each password only once. Using the same password for multiple accounts invites hackers to see EVERYTHING. 

  • Two-Factor Authentication

See the above-referenced article for more on this topic, as we’ve recently covered two-factor in a recent blog post.  In short, two-factor is no longer an option and simply must be done for protection at a bare minimum these days.

  • Use a VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, allows you to safely and securely connect to public Wifi. It will create an extra barrier so no one can spy on your activity, learn your location, or keep track of your activity. 

There may be a catch. Some VPNs cause slow internet speeds, so be sure to look into what is best for your company and read about speed and stability before you choose your VPN.  Make sure it’s compatible and do your due diligence before you make a purchase and set it up.  You may find that your company and IT department have some good recommendations in this area.

  • Update your devices and software

We all know how updates go, a notification pops up, and you swipe it away and repeat those steps for a few more weeks until finally, you choose to update. When software is out of date, it is a lot more vulnerable to security issues. Try to update your devices quickly when a software update is available.  Don’t forget about your routers.  Many times you will need to log in from a device to update the firmware.  It is often forgotten.

  • Lock your devices

It can be relaxing to sit and work at a coffee shop. Sometimes it even feels like your own living room, it’s just not quite as secure. With other people walking around and times when you may leave your device unattended. It is so so so important to remember to lock your devices whenever you step away from your computer or set up automatic locking to lock your device after 30 seconds. 

  • Call Restech!

It’s difficult to figure out how to better protect your company. We make it easy! Call Restech today. Our specialized team will talk with you and go over the type of security you have and what you need, especially if you have employees working remotely. We also offer Security Awareness Training for your company through our Security PLUS Package. It could save you time, money, and stress.