05/04/2020
Are You or Your Employees Working from Home? Here are some tips to help keep you and your employees safe:
Issue Security Policy Guidelines and Rules
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Ensure your business has proper guidelines and rules in place for employees to follow when accessing the company system and resources. This helps protect both the business and the employee.
Watch Out for “Phishy” Emails
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Employees should always be trained on how to spot fraudulent or “phishy” emails. During the unprecedented shift to the WFH model during the COVID-19 crisis, some of the security checks in place on the business systems may not exist on a user’s home system. Make sure users know what to look for and report anything that seems unusual or suspicious, when in doubt a phone call to verify the email sender is a good idea.
Consider requiring users to have secure passwords and enable encryption on devices that access company resources. Even when using Webmail, attachments are downloaded to the local computer, data is cached on the local hard drive. It is important to make sure this data is secured against unauthorized access. If HIPAA or PCI regulations apply, passwords and encryption are required.
Require Passwords and Encryption on Devices
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Having and requiring adequate security software on all devices being utilized for WFH purposes helps protect against those malicious files and viruses that might get through to the end user.
Require Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware Software
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Public Wi-Fi and even home networks are not generally setup to be secure like a business network. Require users to use a VPN to connect to your company resources in a secure manner whenever possible. Even on networks that use encryption for the Wi-Fi other devices might be able to capture data from a client. Using a VPN will ensure your data is encrypted at all times.
Use a VPN Where Possible
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Consider requiring users to have secure passwords and enable encryption on devices that access company resources. Even when using Webmail, attachments are downloaded to the local computer, data is cached on the local hard drive. It is important to make sure this data is secured against unauthorized access. If HIPAA or PCI regulations apply, passwords and encryption are required.
Use Encryption for Any Home or Office Wi-Fi Networks
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When on the company network, data is usually stored in a centralized location where it is backed up. WFH users may be storing important documents on the local system. Remind users to frequently backup any data that is stored locally.
Backup the Data
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Remind users not to leave confidential information out in the home workspace. These documents should be stored in a secured location. Passwords should not be left out in the open. Computers should be powered down when not in use to minimize the risk of attacks or intrusions.
Clean Desk / Power Down
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Remind users not to leave confidential information out in the home workspace. These documents should be stored in a secured location. Passwords should not be left out in the open. Computers should be powered down when not in use to minimize the risk of attacks or intrusions.
If you have any questions or need any assistance to help secure your systems, please reach out to us at 804-359-1633 or [email protected]. Let us help keep your business and your people safe.
