The shift from office-bound to remote work has offered many employees greater flexibility, but it also presents a few additional risks for the company. One point is that it’s now harder to maintain digital security, especially if your team frequently work from home or travels with their laptops.
New risks in the modern workplace
Traditionally, digital security strategies focused on which websites you visited and keeping your usernames and passwords secure. With the rise of remote working, however, this has expanded to include which networks you connect to, where you take your device, and who is around you while you work on sensitive information.
These greater risks mean that both companies and employees have to be increasingly vigilant against attempted digital attacks. For instance, a company may choose to set up their own VPN to protect its data, regardless of the network it is accessed on. Additionally, there may be tracking software installed on all devices to assist in recovery should the device get lost or stolen.
Some companies have also invested in 2-Factor Authentication, which sends a code to a trusted device for every attempted login. This helps to ensure that only permitted personnel can access the company systems, keeping the company and its customers safe.
Using password managers to unify and secure teams
The most secure passwords typically contain at least 12 characters, including a variation of upper and lower case, numbers, and symbols. This can make the password extremely difficult to remember, but writing it down presents a massive security issue.
Instead, using a trusted business password manager is an excellent way to keep a secure log of all necessary passwords. The best password managers will encrypt your data, ensuring that only those with the correct devices or access details can view the stored data.
Because your passwords are stored safely and securely, it also allows you to use more complicated passwords for improved security. If an account needs to be shared across team members, you can simply provide access to the password manager instead of sharing the secure, complicated password.
Planning for long-term flexibility
As remote work continues to become a permanent fixture, it’s important to lay supportive foundations as soon as possible. Developing a secure digital infrastructure can help your team become more productive, whilst also maintaining effective cybersecurity, no matter where they work.
To strengthen this further, you may want to enrol your team in digital security programs, as this can enhance their awareness of common cyberattacks and develop a culture of digital safety in your business.
