The last few years have seen countless companies going to a hybrid work model. According to a survey by Envoy over 77% of businesses have some full or part-time remote employees.
While this change comes with many benefits, as a business owner, there are three big things you need to make sure your employees practice. These will help keep your company’s data secure, avoid online scams and prevent being a victim of a cyber-attack.
Cyber criminals know that many of the security measures businesses have in place in their office instantly evaporate when employees work from home. Things like firewalls, secure Wi-Fi, and restricted physical access to a computer all disappear for remote workers.
According to the global security group the Institute for Security and Technology, businesses saw a 311% increase in Ransomware attacks in 2020 due to cyber criminals trying to exploit these trends. This has only increased as hybrid models have become more and more commonplace and look as though they are here to stay.
But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Because these new models offer many benefits, it’s just important as a business owner to know what you need in place to keep from turning a positive into a giant catastrophe through no fault of your own.
Here are three critical things you must do if you’re allowing employees to work remotely:
- Always On VPN for computer, tablets, and mobile devices to ensure that no matter what device employees use, or where they use it, you and your data are protected.
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This is where you get a text, call, or need to use an authentication app to log in to programs when your account is being used.
- Set your computer screen to lock automatically. This is a simple measure that automatically logs out and locks your computer so someone can’t just jump on and access your files and programs.
Most small businesses aren’t doing these three basic things to keep your data and company from becoming a victim of cyber-crime. They are easy to get in place and free or inexpensive.
Want to know if your employees are putting your company at risk?
Click here to schedule a brief 10-minute call to discuss your situation, needs and concerns. If appropriate, we can conduct a simple security assessment for free to know for sure if your network and data is safe.
