Working from Home: Keeping Your Data Safe

By Editor1SYS | February 28, 2019 0 Comments

It doesn’t matter if you are a freelancer, a business owner, or an employee who occasionally or permanently works from home, your network, devices and systems might be vulnerable to a cybersecurity attack. As a result, this could lead to various legal and financial repercussions for both you and your business.

If you want to ensure you never fall victim to a data breach, find out how to keep your data safe when working from home.

Keep Devices Safe at All Times

The beauty of remote working is you can work almost anywhere in the world, from a coffee shop to a hotel abroad. However, it could be easy to set a mobile device or laptop down and then forget about it, which could be easy picking for a cybercriminal.

Ensure your devices and data are never vulnerable to attack by keeping them with you at all times, and double check you haven’t left them at a hotel, car or in a coffee shop.

You also should improve a device’s security by:

• Encrypting laptops
• Strengthening Passwords
• Installing a mobile device management app to recover a lost laptop, tablet or smartphone

The above tips could ensure your data is protected if a device should fall into the wrong hands.

Utilise the Power of a Firewall

Every device used for business purposes should feature a firewall, which will offer comprehensive online protection to prevent a cybersecurity breach. For example, Sonicwall Online provides a wide variety of firewall solutions to suit your remote working needs and will feature everything from a reliable anti-virus and anti-malware solution to content filtering and intrusion prevention.

Be Cautious When Using a Public Wi-Fi

Unfortunately, public Wi-Fi can increase your vulnerability to a malicious cyberattack, as a hacker could be roaming the network. While you must aim only to use trusted networks, it might not be feasible during a conference or when staying in a hotel on business.

It is crucial to avoid accessing key accounts or performing sensitive activities when using public Wi-Fi, such as inputting financial information or entering a bank account.

Encrypt Your Email

Emails can provide a backdoor to your network and data, which is why you would be intelligent to install encryption onto your corporate email. You also should familiarise yourself with various email cyber threats, such as phishing scams, which could help you to avoid becoming a cybercriminal’s next victim. You also should avoid storing or sending logins and passwords via email to increase the safety and security of an account.

Use Cloud-Based Services

Boost your online security by only using secure, reputable cloud-based services, which are well-regarded for having robust security measures in place to protect their customers’ data. For example, many will incorporate data encryption into their platforms, which will provide you with peace of mind that your information is protected when stored inside the cloud.

If you follow the above top tips, you can ensure your data will be protected when working from the comfort of your own home or when on-the-go.