In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working became the new normal for many tech employers. Notably, many of these companies suffered no loss in productivity from their telecommuting staff. In fact, some organizations actually saw an increase, with fewer workers needing to spend time commuting to the office.
However, the home networks of remote employees now reside on the front lines of corporate network perimeters. This scenario makes attractive targets for online criminals and unethical hackers. So let’s take a closer look at a few strategies for boosting the cybersecurity of your remote team. Ultimately, your business’s SecOps footprint depends on taking a proactive approach.
Train Employees How to Recognize Phishing Emails
Phishing emails remain a top attack vector used by cybercriminals. Because of this cold, hard fact, your employees need to understand how to spot suspicious emails and websites. Include this topic as part of your company’s training program for remote workers. Providing advice on creating strong passwords for their home WiFi network also needs to be part of this training.
Require Multifactor Authentication to Access Company IT Resources
Multifactor authentication (MFA) provides an extra measure of protection when accessing your business’s IT assets from a remote location. Work with your SecOps team to implement this capability for anyone working remotely. Of course, your employees also need to understand how to create strong passwords, as noted earlier. However, MFA ensures your systems remain secure even when passwords become compromised.
Have Remote Employees Use VPNs For Work
Using a virtual private network (VPN) provides significant cybersecurity benefits to your company’s remote staff. Implementing one around your business technical infrastructure automatically encrypts all data transmitted on the network. This approach offers critical data privacy while also hiding the location of each employee accessing your IT assets.
Ensure All Antivirus and Corporate Applications Stay Updated
Many times cybercriminals breach corporate SecOps protection due to outdated antivirus software and corporate applications. Your IT Ops team must prioritize installing regular updates to all company software. This ensures protection against the latest viruses as well as updating obsolete cybersecurity algorithms in your business applications.
Regularly Backup All Company Data
Implement a policy that requires all company data to be backed up and stored in an offsite location. This tactic helps protect your business from the risks of ransomware or even hardware failure. Remember that data remains the lifeblood of your business!
Building out your remote team?
If your company needs an influx of tech talent, connect with the team at Transcend Solutions. One of the top IT staffing agencies in the Pacific Northwest, we provide exceptional candidates to optimize your operations. Schedule a meeting with us to discuss your current hiring plans.