Three of the most common security issues a remote workplace can face
Going remote is a popular snd sometimes essential pivot for businesses right now. Not only is it a flexible working setup, but it can be more convenient for employers and employees.
This benefit can mean that is is great for both attracting talent and expanding the business, without being limited by geography.
However, even remote workplaces can have their issues, and security is often top of the list. Working from home doesn’t mean that you can let security lapse, but that is often just what can happen sometimes if you don’t have the right precautions in place.
With that in mind, here are three of the most common security issues a remote workplace can face.
1) There’s no collective work space
A remote set-up can mean that employees can do what they want during working hours. Of course, he vast majority of remote workers take their responsibilities seriously, but you can never be sure what activities may be happening alongside work.
For example, they could be using work tech (like tablets and phones) to play games, surf the web, or talk to personal contacts. That makes it more likely for malicious links to get past the net. After all, you can never be sure they’re working with good antivirus software, and your company data could be at risk.
2) A lack of 24 hour data security
Your data is always going to be at risk – that’s just the nature of holding confidential data. If an outsider got into your system, they could download and exploit the details you’ve got on file. And that’s something a remote working setup can suffer from the most: no 24 hour data watch.
Which is why a lot of small businesses that work from remote locations use services like outsourced it support. You don’t necessarily need to keep your finger on the button the whole time, but do you need to have someone with an experienced eye in place.
It’s all about working with your flexibility; an outsourced connection has the resources you don’t, and all you have to do is drum up the fee to use them.
3) Failure to regularly reset login credentials
If you’ve got employees all over the place, it can be hard to institute a company policy that affects them all. And that’s where a lot of new remote companies suffer.
There are no regulations you can effectively enforce when only connecting through a screen. That can make it very dangerous, once again, for your company data.
After all, a traditional office would use a rule that dictates login credentials needed to be changed every 60 to 90 days. But when you’re not in an office, this can fall by the wayside. Then, when your employees connect to company servers or access cloud storage from wherever they are, they could be using outdated credentials that have already been exposed – that’s a risk.
If you choose to work remotely, it’s best to have your company security in mind from the get go. You’ll need more security than a traditional office, and your employees need to be on the same page.
Photo by Catherine Tskho
