Cybersecurity for Remote Employees: What to Consider

The rise of remote work has created new cybersecurity challenges for employees and organizations. As a remote employee, it is crucial that you understand these risks and take steps to protect your devices, data, and privacy. In this article, I will provide an in-depth look at cybersecurity best practices for remote employees.

Secure Your Home Network

Your home Wi-Fi network is the gateway to your devices and sensitive data. Follow these steps to secure it:

• Use a strong password with upper/lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common passwords like “password123”.
• Enable WPA2 or WPA3 encryption on your wireless router. Avoid outdated WEP encryption.
• Hide your SSID so it does not broadcast.
• Use a firewall on your router.
• Update router firmware and security settings regularly.
• Limit which devices can connect by enabling MAC address filtering.
• Use a VPN (virtual private network) for all internet traffic.

A secure home network is the first line of defense for remote employees. Take time to properly configure your wireless router and settings.

Practice Safe Browsing Habits

The websites you visit can be threat vectors for cyberattacks. Practice these safe browsing habits:

• Use an up-to-date web browser like Chrome or Firefox. Older browsers may have vulnerabilities.
• Avoid suspicious websites that do not use HTTPS encryption.
• Don’t click on links or attachments in unsolicited emails.
• Use a ad blocking and anti-tracking extensions like uBlock Origin.
• Clear your browser cookies and cache periodically.
• Ensure your browser’s security settings under “Privacy & Security” are enabled.

Following cybersecurity best practices while web browsing reduces the risk of malware or viruses on your devices.

Secure Your Email Account

Company and personal email accounts contain sensitive information. Apply these tips to secure your email:

• Use a strong and unique password for your email account.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) which requires a code from your phone to login.
• Be wary of phishing emails attempting to steal your login credentials. Double check the sender’s email address.
• Never login to your email via public Wi-Fi networks.
• Set up email alerts for any suspicious activity like password resets.
• Avoid opening attachments from people you do not know.

Keeping your email secure prevents hackers from accessing your inbox or sending emails pretending to be you.

Protect Cloud Accounts and Services

Many remote employees rely on cloud services like Office 365, G Suite, Dropbox, and more. Apply these measures to keep cloud accounts secure:

• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) which requires secondary verification via text, biometrics, or security key.
• Review account activity and login locations regularly for unauthorized access.
• Ensure you use a password manager to generate unique complex passwords for each account.
• Enable data encryption settings available in most cloud services for enhanced security.
• Only install trustworthy third-party apps and services with access. Revoke access when no longer needed.
• Share files securely using password protection, expiring links, and “view only” permissions.

Proactively securing your cloud accounts prevents hackers from accessing important company data and files stored in the cloud.

Protect Mobile Devices

Smartphones and tablets introduce new cyber risks for remote employees through their apps, connectivity, cameras, and microphones. Here are key ways to secure mobile devices:

• Maintain up-to-date OS and security patches on iOS or Android devices.
• Encrypt your device storage using built-in OS features.
• Enable password, PIN, or biometric authentication to access your device.
• Only install apps from trusted sources like Google Play and Apple App Store. Avoid sideloading apps.
• Review app permissions carefully and only enable what is necessary.
• Disable Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, location services, and NFC when not in use.
• Never “jailbreak” or root your device as it disables security features.

Taking protective measures on your mobile devices reduces the attack surface hackers can exploit to breach your phone or tablet.

Prevent Phishing Attacks

Phishing scams attempt to trick victims into providing sensitive information like passwords. Be vigilant against phishing by:

• Checking for email sender spoofing and spelling errors.
• Calling the company directly to verify suspicious requests.
• Avoiding opening attachments from unknown senders in emails.
• Ensuring web addresses use “https” and have valid certificates.
• Hoovering over links to preview their actual URLs before clicking.
• Being suspicious of urgent requests or threats if you do not act quickly.

Staying alert to common phishing techniques keeps your information safe from social engineering cyberattacks.

Use a VPN Connection

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your internet traffic and obscures your location. VPNs are critical for remote employees to:

• Securely access workplace servers, networks, and resources.
• Encrypt open Wi-Fi connections to protect your data.
• Prevent your browsing data from being tracked and intercepted.
• Bypass geographic content restrictions when traveling abroad.

Select a reputable VPN provider and connect whenever accessing the internet for optimal privacy and security.

Perform Regular Backups

Backing up your data provides an important layer of protection against cyberattacks like ransomware that can encrypt your files.

• Use cloud storage services like Dropbox to automatically backup files.
• Manually back up company data and projects to an external hard drive.
• Ensure redundancy by backing up data in multiple locations.
• Store backups separately from your devices in a secure location.
• Test restoration from backups periodically to ensure they work.

Routinely backing up important data enables you to recover safely in the event of malware or device failures.

Stay Vigilant Against Cyber Threats

Staying secure against the latest cyber threats requires proactive vigilance:

• Keep your devices up to date with the latest security patches and operating system upgrades.
• Be wary of social engineering manipulation tactics in emails, phone calls, or messages.
• Never reuse passwords across multiple accounts or sites. Use a password manager.
• Report any suspicious activities, emails, or unauthorized account access to your IT department promptly.
• Disable or tightly limit access for unused remote services.
• Only download software from trusted sources and creators.

Ongoing awareness of the cyber risk landscape is key for identifying new attack vectors and keeping your data secure.

Conclusion

Remote work introduces new cybersecurity risks. However, applying best practices for securing your home network, devices, accounts, and data mitigates these threats. Stay vigilant in protecting yourself against phishing, malware, and social engineering ploys. Take advantage of security features like 2FA, encryption, VPNs, and backups for optimal protection as a remote employee. Cybersecurity discipline reduces both personal and company risk.