As the coronavirus pandemic came into full swing, a sudden and massive shift occurred in the workforce. Millions of employees shifted their commutes from the freeways to the stretch between their bed and desk. According to a Gallup poll, more than half of Americans work from home. This is a trend that seems unlikely to reverse soon.
Many employees work-from-home life is still not adequate, even after months away from the office. As recently as August, Forbes found that 72% of remote workers had no dedicated office. And 40% of those workers did not even have a desk.
Challenges faced by remote workers extend beyond the physical space. Many businesses are now dealing with the cybersecurity risk of having sensitive information on devices, networks, and servers that are not on company property. And sometimes even on employees’ personal devices.
Cyberseurity and home safety is vital in a remote work era
For that reason, cybersecurity is a vital issue in the era of remote work.
If you are looking to protect your home office space from cybersecurity threats, keep these tips in mind:
- Stick with company devices: Using devices issued by your employer is a best practice for ensuring safety and reducing liability. Avoid personal devices for work materials.
- Connect through a VPN: Connecting to a virtual private network (VPN) filters your device’s traffic and keeps your data secure and private. Often, companies provide VPNs for their employees.
- Always use private WiFi: Although escaping the house and working from a public space can be alluring, public wireless networks are often unsecured. They are able to be snooped on by people who are keen to steal sensitive information.
In addition, you’ll want to be careful when sharing your screen, as private information could be visible. Also, make sure you have good habits with passwords, especially making sure never to use the same password for multiple services. Make sure you change your password if you suspect it has been compromised. With just a bit of effort, you can work with peace of mind knowing that you are secure in your home office.
Remote work safety and cybersecurity in a home office
See the infographic from The Zebra below to learn more about cybersecurity tips when working from home.
This infographic was created by The Zebra.