New Year’s Day 2021 has come and gone, but the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging, and while there might be a light at the end of the tunnel, many folks are still working from home. Some companies have even decided to transition to a teleworking model permanently.
But the WFH environment comes with a host of its own cyber security concerns. You might be surprised to learn that your home office just isn’t as secure as your real office was -- and your local coffee shop or library is even less so. Here’s what you need to do to protect your company’s data while you’re working from home.
1) Use a Company VPN
Most companies won’t let employees work from home without the added layer of security that comes from a company Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN shields your web activity behind a wall of encryption, so you can send emails and exchange confidential documents without worrying that people might snatch your data from an unencrypted network. If your company has given you a VPN to log into, you should always use it to perform your work. If your company hasn’t given you a VPN, you should suggest that they do so.
2) Secure Your Home Network with a Comprehensive Antivirus Solution
Your home network isn’t as secure as your company’s network, largely because you simply don’t have the budget for it. Company networks are more secure on-site because they’re backed up by an IT security team, enterprise level threat protection, and often, physical security around an on-site server bank.
At home, you don’t have an IT department -- and your company’s IT department probably can’t help you with issues you’re experiencing with your home connection. For that, you’ll need to rely on your internet service provider (ISP) and yourself. You need the most comprehensive antivirus solution you can get. A max security antivirus will offer protection against malware and malicious websites, spam email filters, parental controls, and everything else you need to stay safe.
3) Practice Physical Security as well as Cyber Security
When you think about cyber security, you think about protecting your data from faceless hackers on the other side of the world. But protecting your devices and work materials physically is important, too.
4) Know the Risks of Videoconferencing
The audio-video conferencing is the way we do meetings for a little while yet, but it’s important to know that programs like Zoom have inherent flaws -- flaws that have been exploited by hackers to “Zoom bomb” various meetings with inappropriate and shocking content. Know how to protect yourself against videoconference hijackers. Make sure your Zoom meetings are private, and use a password or controlled guest access from the waiting room to keep hackers out. Always install any available software updates for your video conferencing software, as these updates typically contain security patches that can fix known flaws with the software.
5) Secure Your Home Router
Do you know how to access your home router’s dashboard? Do you know what level of wifi encryption you’re using?
Google the brand name and model number of your router or gateway with the words “default username and password” to find the default login credentials for your device. Then go to your router’s IP address and log in using your default credentials. Change your wireless encryption protocol to WPA2 or WPA3, if your device has that as an option. Then change your router’s default login credentials, creating a secure password that hackers can’t easily guess.
When you’re working from home, you need to be even more vigilant about cyber security than when you’re going into the office every day. With the right antivirus software and some basic cyber security best practices, you can protect your company’s data as well as your own.
