Ten tips to stay cyber-safe when working remotely

When more people are connecting remotely, technology call centres may face a higher call volume than normal, and more resources may be needed outside of standard business hours. Simultaneously, network bandwidth, data storage capabilities, and computing power are put to the test. Despite this increase in traffic, attention to detail cannot falter. Businesses are encouraged to keep a close eye on these needs, prepare a plan to reallocate resources as necessary, and recognize that this dependency may increase over time.

Remote access technologies have known vulnerabilities – and are all too often the weak link that bad actors use to gain access to protected information. Make sure all software and applications are updated and patch any weaknesses that are identified.

Organisations should make sure their business continuity plans, disaster recovery teams, and cyber incident response plans are in alignment. Bad actors know that dependency on your network and its availability is never higher than when more people are accessing it remotely and will attempt to take advantage of the situation.

When IT resources are stretched, organisations may need to make some exceptions to published security policies, standards, or practices. Implement a thorough review process to ensure such exceptions are closely monitored and solved. Also, most work from home policies weren’t originally drafted to address a global conversion to remote work; organisations should carefully review those as well.

Traditional user login and password accounts are easy for bad actors to penetrate. Whenever possible, set up multifactor authentication on your accounts. This requires you to provide at least two authenticating factors, or proofs of identity, before you can access protected data, giving you a second line of defence against criminal activity. This additional level of protection is particularly critical when more people are accessing networks remotely, giving bad actors more entry points to access private networks.

When connected to a public network, any information you share online or via a mobile app could be accessed by someone else. Always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your activity. Most organisations provide a VPN to their employees to ensure secure, remote access for work use, and personal VPN accounts are available from various service providers. Access via personal devices whilst working remotely should be limited to encrypted company VPN channels.

Most people use the same or similar version of a password for everything, even between work and home. Unfortunately, this means a single stolen password can be reused on multiple sites to unlock dozens of accounts for hackers. Remembering secure and complex passwords for every account can be difficult, if not impossible. Use password management software to ensure you have strong, unique passwords for everything, because passwords are the foundation of sound online security practices.

Most people want to stay informed with the latest information, especially during periods of uncertainty. Bad actors know this and will attempt to take advantage by masking malicious links as something informative. Once clicked, that malicious link can be used to gain access to an individual’s or organisation’s private information, and/or freeze their computers or networks. If you’re unsure of the source, go to the organisation’s website. If it’s important, the information will be posted there as well.

Bad actors can create fake websites where both the URL and homepage look remarkably similar to a site you trust – such as your healthcare provider, bank, or email provider. Instead of following a link in an email, type the URL in by hand. Also, make sure the site you visit has HTTPS in the URL; these sites are more secure than those with HTTP.

Bad actors will attempt to con people into sharing confidential information by pretending to be someone you know or work with. Take extra care in identifying who you’re sharing information with – even if you think the request came from a trusted resource or organization. Don’t feel rushed; take the time to research the request and whether it’s appropriate before responding.