The rise of remote working has revolutionized the business landscape in recent years, allowing companies and employees to work from anywhere with an internet connection and a device. This has resulted in greater flexibility, improved work-life balance, and cost savings for both employers and employees. However, this shift towards remote work has also introduced new cybersecurity risks that businesses and employees must be aware of.
Cybersecurity has become increasingly important in the remote work era, as employees now have access to sensitive company information from their homes and other locations outside of the office. This has made it more critical than ever for businesses to implement premium cybersecurity measures to protect themselves and their employees against potential threats. For example, employees may use unsecured Wi-Fi networks or expose sensitive information to cybercriminals due to a lack of awareness about cyber threats.
To protect your devices against these risks, businesses need to provide employees with the right tools, resources, and training to keep their devices and information secure. This includes investing in premium cybersecurity tools, such as antivirus software and virtual private networks (VPNs), to protect against malware, phishing, and other cyberattacks. It is also important to educate employees on safe online practices, such as using strong passwords and avoiding suspicious emails or links. Keep reading to learn how you can protect your business and your employees from the ever-increasing threat of cybercrime.
Antivirus Software
One of the biggest threats that your employees’ devices face is malicious software, which is also known as malware. Malware is a type of software that is designed to harm a device or steal sensitive information. Malware can take many forms, including viruses, spyware, and ransomware. There are thousands of different types of malware, but these are the most common that you might encounter.
One of the most common ways that malware is spread is through downloading infected files from the internet, opening infected email attachments, or visiting infected websites. Since businesses often require their employees to do research or send and receive files over email, this is a serious risk in the modern business landscape. Once a device is infected with malware, it can cause a range of problems, from slowing down the device’s performance to stealing sensitive information, such as login credentials, bank account information, or personal data.
That’s why it is important to use premium antivirus software on all of your business devices. Antivirus software works by scanning your devices and the files looking for signs of malware. If any malware is detected on a device, the antivirus software can remove it from the device. It can also quarantine to prevent it from spreading — which is especially important in a business context.
Virtual Private Networks
Another essential cybersecurity tool that your business needs is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is software that creates an encrypted internet connection. This is important because it keeps all the data that is being sent and received over the connection secure.
When employees work remotely, they may access sensitive company information on public Wi-Fi networks or other unsecured connections. This is a big threat that companies face with the “digital nomad” trend that’s becoming more and more popular. This can put both the company’s data and the employee’s personal information at risk of being intercepted by cybercriminals. Skilled hackers can listen in on devices that are sending and receiving data over unsecured networks. This digital eavesdropping is extremely dangerous and allows hackers to steal sensitive data, login credentials, and personal information.
However, you can use a VPN to stay safe on unsecured networks — this is especially important if you have employees that travel often or enjoy working at their local coffee shops. By creating a secure and encrypted connection between the employee’s device and the network, your employees can enjoy their remote working freedom with peace of mind.
Another advantage of using a VPN is that you can connect to secure global servers in other countries and cities around the world. This feature will hide the device’s IP address (and its geographical location). This means that it can help bypass geo-restrictions and internet censorship laws. If you have employees that travel abroad, this is an essential tool to have because it means that remote workers can access all the websites, apps, and services they need, even if they are not available in the country where they are located.
Password Managers
A password manager is another important tool that businesses need. Password managers help users securely store, manage, and generate strong and unique passwords for all of their online accounts. It eliminates the need to remember multiple passwords by storing them in an encrypted database, accessible only with a single master password. The master password is randomly generated, so you don’t need to worry about anyone else having access to this password.
Remote workers often need to access multiple online accounts for work purposes, such as email, cloud storage, project management, and many other types of software. With so many accounts and passwords to keep track of, it’s easy to fall into the trap of using a weak password that is easy to guess. Many people use their personal information to create passwords —- this allows hackers to easily break into accounts. Many employees might also reuse the same password for multiple accounts, which leaves all of their accounts at risk.
Using weak passwords can leave remote workers vulnerable to cyberattacks. Once a hacker steals a single password in a phishing scam or through digital eavesdropping, they can use it to access multiple accounts and steal sensitive information.
By using a password manager, remote workers can generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of their online accounts. This significantly reduces the risk of cyberattacks and ensures that their online accounts and sensitive information are protected.
Password managers also make it easier for remote workers to securely access their accounts on the go. Instead of having to remember multiple passwords, they can simply log into their password manager and access all their accounts with a single click.
