Four Tips to Protect Your Privacy at Work

Unfortunately, cybercrime is an issue that poses a significant threat in modern society - both to individuals and to organisations.

14:46 26 July 2021

According to Hiscox, there is a successful hack of a small business in the UK every 19 seconds, and there are 65,000 attempted attacks every day.

 

The consequences can be serious, with companies running the risk of suffering major financial and reputational damage if cybercriminals gain access to sensitive records or employee data. But employees themselves have a part to play in maintaining security in the workplace.

 

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a huge increase in staff working from home, but as people begin to return to the office in larger numbers as restrictions ease, it’s important that privacy and security remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Here are four tips that will help to limit the threat of potentially harmful breaches.

 

Always Lock Your Screen When You Walk Away

 

Whenever you leave your desk – even if it’s just for a few minutes to visit the toilet, make a drink, or talk to a colleague – be sure to lock your computer screen. Leaving it open and running could lead to someone else gaining access to your system, seeing a personal conversation, or having a look at sensitive data that should not be shared.

 

Invest in Extra Security

 

If you are still working from home, it’s crucial to take extra steps to safeguard your privacy, as your network may not be as secure as the one you connect to in the office. It’s recommended to use high-quality antivirus and firewall software, while you should also use VPN protection to connect to another network from your location. This will ensure any data remains encrypted.

 

Don’t Share Personal Information

 

A lot of businesses use Slack, Skype, or Microsoft Teams for internal and external communications. These are shared platforms, so it’s important to be wary of what you post within those chats. Personal details such as addresses or financial information should not be included, as they could be accessed and used for illegal purposes.

 

Disable Preview Messaging

 

If you work in a collaborative environment with plenty of meetings that involve screen sharing, it’s a good idea to disable the preview function on any communications you receive. That way, anyone looking at your screen will see that you have a new notification but will be unable to read the contents of that message without you opening it.