How Secure Is Your Remote Working Setup?
Things have been a little different recently, haven’t they? Once an occasional luxury, working from home has, for a lot of us, become the most effective way to protect ourselves. But, what about protecting the work, or the company itself?
Is Your Remote Working Setup Secure?
Working from home brings new challenges. Whether it’s trying to keep a toddler away from important video meetings, finding a makeshift office space, or simply getting your head in the game – there’s a hell of a lot to learn. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, or even to get comfortable, which often means Cybersecurity slips our mind. We should, after all, be implementing the same strict measures at home that we do in the office. It’s just a little harder to remember when you’re not even sure the last time you washed your joggers. Here are a few reminders.
Secure your wireless networks.
Simple, but very important. Chances are, the last time you thought about your home network safety was when it was put in place… which was a while ago.
Did you change the network name, and password at the time? Have you updated it since?
Default network names often give attackers a good idea of the type of network, software, and router you’re using, which only makes it easier to hack. Change your wireless network name – and yes, this absolutely is an excuse for a WiFi pun.
The same goes for passwords – default passwords can be easy to crack, so change it to something new. We’ve got tips for that later, but we recommend a good 20 characters, and whatever you do, don’t use your name.
If you want to go the extra mile – go a few extra metres. Move your router to the middle of your property. This ensures that the range of your network doesn’t stray too far from your own four walls, and makes it harder for attackers to gain access.
Review your Passwords.
We’re all painfully aware of the importance of strong passwords, but we’re also guilty of using the same ones over and over again. Don’t. Use your time at home to review and update your passwords. Consider using passphrases. Whilst a random mix of letters and numbers is always going to be difficult to remember, a few random words are kinder to your brain and just as strong. Pick four or more words, put them together and you’re sorted. Even better if you can include a symbol or two.
It’s also worth looking into multi-factor authentication. Most services now offer this, and the difference it can make is huge. It’s an extra level of protection for your accounts, all made possible by a quick text or email code.
Think about Phishing.
It’s best to remain cynical when it comes to phishing scams. They’re often thought of as a problem reserved for elderly relatives and technophobes, but scams are getting savvier, and everyone is vulnerable. We’ve spoken about phishing before, but research suggests that it has increased by a whopping 600% since lockdown, which means you need to be on high alert. Implement firewalls, stay suspicious, and question everything. If a company makes contact with you, respond using the methods suggested on their website, instead of just ringing back or replying to an email. This way, you can be sure about who you’re speaking to. And, if it feels ‘off’ – it probably is.
Update Update Update.
Everything. How many times have you put off that little reminder? Whilst it might seem innocuous, updates are vitally important to stay digitally safe, and putting them off could leave you open to attack. Cybersecurity is fast-moving and adaptable – which means your software, firewalls, antivirus and antimalware should be too. Put on a brew, and install all necessary updates, it only takes a minute, we promise.
Want to know more about cybersecurity for your business? Get in touch with a member of our team today.