5 Security Tips for Working Remotely
With most office-based staff working remotely, it’s important to follow security advice.
Here are our top 5 security tips if you are working from home:
1) Physically Secure Devices.
If you have separate work and personal devices, make sure to secure your work device at the end of the day. Your employer may have a different insurance policy which could be in breach if you are not properly securing the device.
We recommend storing your work devices in a locked desk drawer or cupboard. This is not only wise from an insurance perspective, but it also prevents a possible data breach if the device got into the wrong hands.
To help minimize the effects of this, we recommend device encryption. The most common type of encryption on a Windows-based device is the built-in BitLocker security feature.
If you do want to use BitLocker, we strongly advise having an IT professional set up the feature on your corporate network. Otherwise, it’s very easy to accidentally lock yourself out of the device.
2) Lock your Computer Screen!
When you’re away from your computer, always remember to lock your computer screen! Not only will this keep your data safe, but this ensures no disruption to your desktop – especially if you have kids or pets at home that can accidentally press on keys!
If you’re using a Windows based computer, press CTRL+ALT+DEL and choose “lock” from the menu to quickly lock your screen.
If you’re using a Mac, press Command+Control+Q to do the same.
Additionally, both Windows and Mac have settings to automatically lock the screen after a certain period of inactivity. Make sure this setting is in place incase you forget to lock your screen.
3) Don’t Display Documents with Sensitive Info.
Here’s some advice that’s good practice for both the home and office environment: don’t leave documents with sensitive information or passwords laying around!
If you tend to have trouble remembering your passwords, we recommend using an online password manager instead of writing them down.
If you use Safari, Chrome, or Firefox as your browser, the good news is that they have password managers already built in. Additionally, there are tons of free password managers if you use different browsers and want to have your passwords accessible across all devices.
4) Keep All Devices Security Patched.
Most IT providers will do this for you, but when working at home, it can sometimes be missed if your device is not in regular contact with the server that controls patch management.
It’s also worth noting that if you are using a non-company device or computer for work, then it’s your personal responsibility to keep this updated.
5) Secure your Wifi Network.
Home-based wifi solutions tend to be less secure than office-based solutions. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you are using a secure wifi password on your internet router.
If your home wifi is unsecured, it’s all too easy for a hacker to impersonate a website that you regularly visit and capture your login credentials. This allows them to gain access to your company data that would otherwise be secure.
If you are worried about the home IT security of your employees or colleagues, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at STGInfoTech.com! We are open for business during COVID-19 and service West Hollywood as well as the greater Los Angeles and Orange County area. Please check out our website for up to date information or give us a call at (323) 761-2634.