9 Ways Remote Workers Can Be Refrained From Falling Victim To Cyber Attacks 

Cyber attacks

The pandemic had drastically changed the world of work and those effects seem like they will be remaining for the foreseeable future. Businesses have had to let most of their employees work remotely. Everything happened so quickly that most companies either forgot or have not had the chance to consider every aspect of remote working. Companies rely heavily on the use of the internet now to maintain their businesses functionality. 

A huge factor that tends to be overlooked is the IT security of businesses and their remote workers devices. With so many employees working remotely it can be tough to manage all their devices security, that is why many businesses in the UK for example have chosen to partner with IT Services in London. Working remotely has a lot of benefits but it also has a lot of downsides that are not always considered a priority. Employees are no longer in the office which included specific security measures to protect them. Any companies existing security measures can be difficult to transfer into various employee’s remote workspaces. 

The rate of cybercrimes has increased since more people have started working remotely. Companies and their employees are in unusual territory with remote working. There are always unique issues that require unique solutions. Businesses in the UK for example might require a lot of flexibility in today’s age which can made simpler with the help of Managed IT Support London Solutions. Every company has confidential information that needs to be protected from cyber thieves. Should this confidential information be leaked or stolen it could be detrimental to the organisation’s success. 

There are so many ways for cyber thieves to gain access to confidential information such as phishing schemes, viruses, ransomware, and spyware. The issue is that employees are not equipped or trained well enough to take care of these issues should they occur. They can only take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening in the first place. Below you will find a list of steps remote workers can take to prevent cyber-attacks.

One of the simplest and best things remote workers can do for themselves is to use a strong password on all their devices and applications. The password needs to be so complex that nobody could easily guess it. The passwords you use should be between eight and sixty-four alphanumeric characters but what really sets it a side is using special characters. A simple tip that is overlooked way too often is that you should never write a password down and store it near your device. Most applications allow for two-factor authentication which is one of the best security measures anyone could take. Another step that should be taken is to always update passwords periodically, this will prevent any hacker from breaking the password you set. 

  • Safely Sharing Company Data 

There is nothing more important to a business than their confidential information and their client’s information. The more data they gather means that more can be lost. The saying that information is power is quite applicable in this scenario because when a cyber thief has your confidential data they can do many things with it to harm your business. If more companies would like to safeguard their data then they need to migrate it to a cloud, information needs to be shared through applications like Google Drive and Dropbox. Employees should never share company or client information outside of safe applications. This is the easiest way to fall victim to a cybercrime. Cloud services are a great way to prevent any information from being stole. 

  • Safeguarding The Home Router 

Cybercriminals are ruthless and will take any and every opportunity to gain access to your files. A popular method they like to use is via people’s home routers. Too many people do not change their home router’s password which makes it easy to for cyber criminals to access your devices. Just like the passwords on your devices need to be changed, so does the one on the router. It should not be neglected, and the password needs to be made something complicated as well. 

  • Security and Policies    

Having sufficient security is the most important factor for any remote business. But to back up the security measures put in place; the right security policies need to be implemented. The policies need to be implemented correctly so employees can follow them. This will determine the work systems and make for safe practices. When making the policies the needs of the business need to be identified, once that is done the policies can be tailored so the goals of the company can be met. 

  • Use Anti-Virus Software 

Anyone who does not use an anti-virus software is asking for a cyber criminal to take advantage of their systems. An anti-virus software continuously monitors whether or not there is anything malicious on your devices, so you do not need to. It looks through emails, system files and operating system. It provides daily updates, but the key is to use a reputable application that is right for your computer. An anti-virus software is the kryptonite of cyber criminals because they find it next to impossible to hack devices that have the software installed. 

  • Firewalls 

Some applications such as Windows already have firewalls installed so you have access to it automatically. The reason for a firewall is that it basically builds a wall that separates your information from being accessed by unauthorised personnel. They even signal you when there is any attempted breaches of your systems. But you always need to remember that the firewall needs to be activated before using the internet. The best thing for businesses in terms of a firewall is to buy an additional one for their networks. 

  • Updating Systems 

This is something small that can turn into a huge issue for anyone. The updates are there for a reason and should not be ignored. They usually include security fixes to help secure your systems even more against cyber criminals looking to exploit your devices. Updating applies to apps and devices because both have privacy that could be taken advantage of. However, before implementing the updates you need to take a look at your browser security settings. 

  • Encryption

Employees need to make use of encryption as it has a vital role in the security of their systems. It prevents stolen devices and any unauthorised personnel from getting access to your devices. Some businesses may not have turned on encryption but that does not mean that you cannot do it yourself. 

  • Daily Scans 

Daily scans of all systems are essential for preventing security breaches. Viruses, spyware and malware never rest so make it a daily routine to check whether or not they have breached the security measures you put in place. There may be a time where one of those instruments may have gained accessed to your systems and you chose to ignore it. The consequences could be irreversible; therefore you need to remove any malicious agents off your system as soon as possible. Daily scans can be done via the anti-virus or anti-malware software to track down anything that could cause an issue to your system.

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