Cybersecurity has been a very ambiguous topic for quite some time since the internet arrived. Many believe the only dangers outside are the viruses that can infect your computer. However, in this digital world, the security of your data is a grave threat that you need to keep on your radar. Chances are that if you are an owner of a company, you also need to protect the data of your customers. From their payment method to their addresses, every bit of information counts.
If you offer a service or a product, you must protect the data around your copyright. It is a whole dimension of technological layers that you need to implement. As we have mentioned before, the work dynamics have forever changed since the pandemic, and our data has become an even more critical part of our personas. But, to be secure, we need to fix the most significant flaw that all security systems have, the human factor.
Before going further, we must define the difference between the privacy and security of information. Privacy refers to keeping your files and information hidden from other team members for confidentiality. Security, however, refers explicitly to protecting your business data from external sources. However, remote workers are defined as "remote sources" because of the nature of their job. As you can see, this can complicate things on this front.
So, now that we know the basics behind cybersecurity and where the most significant risk is, it is time to discuss strategy. There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from external factors while allowing remote workers inside your company. Without further ado, let us jump right into the main topics of discussion.
Ensuring the cybersecurity of your data when working remotely
The first step for all kinds of remote workers is to keep their computers clean of any malware. Some companies offer access to corporate plans to help big teams with the cost this might represent. Avast is an excellent free choice to mention to your teammates if you want to go for a freebie. However, we recommend you take an extra step and hire a more solid choice such as Norton.
People who work with sensitive data like developers should consider having 2 computers. One computer only for working matters and the other for personal things. This way, the risk of suffering a hack. Some cybersecurity experts tend to create partitions inside their computers to protect their information in a single PC, but we advise against it.
Lastly, sharing passwords and usernames is hazardous as there is nothing to protect them once written on the internet. That is why we recommend using password security tools such as LastPass. Sharing them through this software will protect them from external attacks or human mistakes. There are not enough layers of protection when it comes to passwords.
All of these together can help you strengthen the protection of your data. This is especially important when it also involves your clients' data.
Ensuring the protection of outbound business data
Protecting your internal team can be tricky, but protecting the information you send outside is even more complicated. Sending data outside of your servers is more common than you might think. Let us think, for example, that you provide certain products and have an online store. You could construct a payment processor in your online store, but this is sometimes risky as it requires you to communicate directly with the payment tool that your client uses.
That is why many companies provide these payment services that protect the financial data of your clients and your company. One misstep could risk your client's information and generate a bad situation for you. In this case, it is better to trust the experts.
If we talk about your internal communication, we recommend using encrypted apps when communicating or sharing business data over chat. Telegram is a perfect choice that comes free and offers much flexibility. You can also opt to use cloud services to share data instantly with others but with an extra layer of protection that instant messaging apps tend to lack. Google Drive is the most common choice, but it is not as secure as you might imagine. Other services such as MediaFire or Dropbox serve as good alternatives.
Finally, never underestimate the mighty pen. Sometimes it is better to send sensitive information in a physical format to avoid inconveniences. Postal services are faster than ever, and you might want to sacrifice time to ensure a more secure form of sharing data. This can also be true when sharing software and other kinds of information. A physical drive is much easier to protect with traditional means.
Local measures to enhance even further your cybersecurity
We have spoken about handling and sending data, but one crucial point is missing: storage. Sometimes we need to store confidential information, and for that, we use servers. They work as an excellent solution to many problems as they can always be safely guarded in a secure space. However, they work with the internet, so you must continuously monitor them.
It would help if you kept your IT team ready for any sign of alarm that they might detect from your servers. Protecting your network is also very important, so make sure that any other computer does not share the access point of your server. Check the state of your workers' access port weekly or monthly to ensure no anomaly is detected.
Protecting the data is something that you should think about before something happens. Being prepared is better than having to react to an uncomfortable situation.
Virtrify has experience working remotely and helps its virtual assistants to prepare accordingly. We can help you strengthen your work network while also keeping your business data safe when collaborating with our remote workers! Make sure to ask our devoted sales staff that will help you learn more about our services.
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