Key Security Considerations For Protecting Remote Workers

Given the current COVID-19 situation, many firms and offices have had to change the way they work and opt for remote working practices.

20:31 10 June 2020

But while working remotely, it is important that some security considerations are adopted to make sure that the workers remain safe.

 

Remote working practices are gaining popularity these days especially because offices are unable to operate as normal due to the Corona Virus Pandemic. While most offices were in a rush to adopt remote working practices so that they could meet their professional targets and get the work done, they didn’t pay attention to an important aspect i.e. security considerations to protect their remote workers.

 

When working on a remote basis, the company has to make sure that a certain set of principles is set into place so that the identity and information of both the company as well as the employees can be safeguarded. There are plenty of IT Services through which this can be ensured. Here are some security considerations that will make sure that your workers can work remotely in a safe and secure manner:

 

1. Make Use Of An Antivirus:

 

Remote working means that the workers will be communicating with one another via the exchange of emails and documents on a frequent basis. While, controlling and ensuring that the documents and systems being used in an office are safe and free from any hazardous softwares and viruses is easy, the same cannot be said about the employee’s personal computers.

 

Therefore, make sure that all your employees are using an antivirus tool. Windows defender is also a great resource in this regard that can be used to scan the computer and make sure that it is free from any sort of malicious software or threat.

 

2. Use Employee Monitoring Softwares:

 

In order to ensure that all the employees are on track and are motivated to work, the use of an employee monitoring software can be a huge IT Support. These softwares can help you keep an eye on the activities and productivity levels of your employees. You will be able to monitor their working hours, get a report of their work and manage their working hours as well.

 

Some remote employee working softwares also come with additional features that make sharing documents and holding meetings easy and more effective.

 

3. Make Use Of Two Factor Authentication:

 

In order to safeguard the sensitive information and content that is critical for your company or business, make use of two factor authentication. Two factor authentication solutions can easily be integrated into your systems. They will allow you to restrict access to different resources so you can be a hundred percent certain that only the authorized people have access and external attackers can be kept at bay.

 

4. Use A Virtual Private Network:

 

Virtual Private Networks or VPNs as they are commonly known, are a great way to ensure that the information about your employees as well as the company remains safe. There are plenty of VPN options in the market to choose from. Moreover, companies often make use of a VPN nevertheless. Now that physical offices are transitioning towards remote working practices, it might be a good time to make use of IT Consulting and upgrade the current VPN subscription so that it can meet the needs of the company in a better and more comprehensive manner.

 

5. Revise Firewall And Access Policies:

 

Companies and businesses are very smart when it comes to making sure that their data remains safe. Therefore, the access to company resources and data files is restricted through the use of strict and well protected firewalls. But since the things have changed now and your employees will be accessing this data from their own laptops and from their home networks, therefore, you will need to revise these policies. You can ask your employees to submit their IP addresses so that those addresses can be added to the unrestricted list and a secure and smooth access to all the information needed can be ensured.

 

6. Use Password Protections And Collaborative Platforms:

 

When working remotely, make sure that all your employees are logging in and using their official email addresses. All type of communication should take place through the use of these official mediums. This way, the risk of your employee’s personal and private information and files getting mishandled and leaked.

 

This policy should be strictly imposed. Moreover, when sharing files and documents that may contain sensitive information, it is recommended that the password protection feature is enabled. Another way through which safety and protection can be ensured is through the use of collaborative platforms. Through the use of such platforms, everyone can pitch in and provide input at one place rather than sending everything via emails and messages. This measure will also make sure that your inbox is not flooding with emails.

 

7. Train And Educate Your Employees:

 

Although, the modern era is the age of technology, still, not all of us are tech savvy and competent. Especially given the current Corona Virus Pandemic, there is this environment of stress and anxiety around us. Make sure that you connect with your employees and show empathy. Offer support to one another and provide them with proper training and education sessions.

 

It is not right for one to expect that the employees should know about remote working and its demands and principals already. Provide a comfortable environment for your employees where they can share their concerns and views. Don’t impose, rather discuss these things with your employees. Serve as a community and make sure that your employees and workers can transition towards these remote working practices with ease and convenience.

 

Conclusion:

 

Remote working is a concept that is being accepted on a global scale, especially due to the current situation. But for some people, making this transition and embracing this change may not be easy. When switching towards remote working, make sure that your employee’s and company’s safety is prioritized and security considerations are brought into place so remote working can be easy and secure.