Cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses around the world. Meanwhile, remote workers are increasingly susceptible to cyberattacks. If you work from home, you need to plan accordingly. Otherwise, you could put yourself and others at risk of a data breach.
Furthermore, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to a rise in remote work cyberattacks. As many businesses let employees work remotely during the pandemic, cybercriminals have launched sophisticated attacks against them. And, they show no signs of slowing down any time soon.
The bottom line. If you work from home, you need to account for cybersecurity. Here are five can’t-miss work-from-home cybersecurity tips to help you guard against ransomware, malware, and other cyber threats.
1. Keep Your Security Software Up to Date
Install antivirus and anti-malware software on your business devices. In addition, verify that this software is up to date. It often helps to set up automatic security software updates on your devices. In doing so, you can ensure that your security software is updated as soon as new versions of it become available. Best of all, you’ll be well-equipped to protect against current and emerging cyberattacks.
2. Utilize a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Connect to your company’s VPN any time you use your business device for work. With a VPN in place, your business likely will require you to enter a username and password to access the network. Moreover, you should update your VPN password regularly. It is generally a good idea to use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters with your VPN password. Your password should be at least ten characters, too.
3. Lock Your Business Devices
Ensure your business devices are locked when they are not in use. Even if you work from home, it is paramount to verify that only you can securely access your company devices. So, you should have strong passwords in place across your business devices. Also, it would be best if you did not use them for anything other than work-related activities.
4. Watch for Phishing Emails
Keep an eye out for emails that come from unknown senders or contain suspicious attachments or web links. These messages may be phishing emails, which cybercriminals often use to gain access to corporate networks illegally. If you see an email that looks suspicious, do not open any attachments or click on any links within the message. At this time, notify your supervisor. Then, they can verify that your business devices and the corporate network is still secure.
5. Participate in Cyber Awareness Training
Encourage your business to offer cyber awareness training. With this training in place, you and your peers can get information about cyber threats and how to protect against them. The training provides an opportunity to share your cybersecurity concerns and questions as well.
Prioritize Cybersecurity When You Work from Home
Cybercrime is ongoing. But, you can use these tips to do your part to guard against work-from-home cyberattacks.
Of course, if you want to pursue a work-from-home job, Ascend Staffing can help. Our team can keep you in the loop about remote job opportunities. Explore our job board today!
