Best practices for cybersecurity remote work

The shift to more remote and hybrid workforces since 2020 has become a major part of our new reality. And while many of us around the world have grown to love working from our home offices, cybercriminals have grown equally comfortable exploiting our often relaxed security habits.

The human element continues to be the biggest cybersecurity remote work vulnerability. Almost half of workers blame distractions for their susceptibility to phishing scams alongside risks, such as:

• 72% of departing employees admitting to taking company data with them when they leave
• 70% of intellectual property theft occurred within the 90 days before an employee’s resignation announcement. 

What’s also concerning, and a contributing factor in this perfect storm of increasing frequency and severity of data breaches, is one third of companies don’t provide cybersecurity remote work training to teams, alongside:

• 25% of former employees still maintain access to their previous workplace accounts and emails
• 41% of these individuals admitted to sharing their former workplace login credentials.

A comprehensive approach to remote work security training and monitoring

Many organisations are now working to establish comprehensive remote working-specific security policies that all employees review and sign, regardless of their role or location. The focus is on implementing policies and procedures as foundations for responsible data management to help ensure every team member understands their role in protecting company assets and their own. 

Data handling protocols should include protocols for:

• Separating work and personal activities
• Managing sensitive information
• Proper file storage and sharing practices
• Threat prevention and response to identify and report suspicious emails and maintain vigilance against social engineering attacks.

Plus, importantly, deploying real-time monitoring tools to detect and respond to potential security threats promptly.

Remote work security essentials

Remote work security is a shared responsibility and commitment between organisations and their employees where a multi-layered, preventative, and regularly reviewed approach is the best defence.

Network protection

Working remotely means your home network becomes an extension of your company’s security perimeter. VPNs create encrypted tunnels that protect sensitive data from interception, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks. While organisations can provide VPN access, employees must actively use it and ensure their home networks have strong passwords and WPA3 encryption.

Authentication 

Multi-factor authentication requires multiple forms of verification before granting access, such as unique, limited time code by email or text, or from an authenticator app. Even with a compromised password, MFA prevents attackers from accessing your accounts. 

Software updates

Regular software updates patch security gaps that cybercriminals actively exploit. While IT teams can push updates, remote workers must:

• Install updates promptly rather than postponing them
• Enable automatic updates where possible
• Report any update issues immediately.

Data protection

Encryption serves as your last line of defense, ensuring data remains unreadable even if intercepted. Remote workers should:

• Use company-approved encryption tools for file sharing
• Never disable encryption features for convenience
• Encrypt sensitive files before storing them locally.

Every security measure is only as strong as its weakest link. While organisations provide the tools and frameworks, remote workers must actively take part in maintaining their security shields through daily practices and continual awareness.