The Cybersecurity Risks of Working From Home

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to allow employees to work from home. While this offers a number of benefits, it also comes with cybersecurity risks that must be addressed. Employees working from home are often reliant on their own devices and networks, which can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. In this new remote-working landscape, businesses must take steps to ensure the cybersecurity of their employees and data.

With employees working remotely more now than ever, organizations should invest in stronger cybersecurity measures to protect them. This means providing employees with the resources and training they need to identify and avoid cybersecurity risks. It also means investing in technology that can detect and respond to cyber threats.

What are the risks of remote work for employees?

How can businesses protect themselves and their employees? These are questions that must be answered in the new remote-working landscape. Cybersecurity is a top concern for businesses of all sizes, and it’s only going to become more important in the coming years.

• Employees may be using their own devices for work tasks. This can open up the business to cybersecurity risks, as personal devices are often less secure than company-issued ones. To mitigate this risk, businesses should provide employees with guidance on how to keep their devices secure. They should also have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy in place that outlines the security measures that must be taken when using personal devices for work.
• Employees may be working on unsecured networks. This could allow cyber criminals to gain access to business data and systems. To protect against this, businesses should provide employees with guidance on how to choose and use secure networks. They should also consider investing in a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt data and keep it safe from cyber threats.
• Employees may be using personal email accounts for work tasks. This can open up the business to cybersecurity risks, as personal email accounts are often less secure than company-issued ones. To mitigate this risk, businesses should provide employees with guidance on how to keep their email accounts secure. They should also have a policy in place that requires employees to use company-issued email accounts for work tasks.
• Employees may be using weak passwords. This could allow cyber criminals to gain access to business data and systems. To protect against this, businesses should provide employees with guidance on how to choose strong passwords. They should also have a policy in place that requires employees to change their passwords regularly.

What are the cybersecurity risks of remote work for the company?

Not only does remote work carry risks for the employees, but also for the companies they are employed by. Here are some cybersecurity risks companies face when their employees are working remotely:

• Data breaches: If employee devices or accounts are compromised, cybercriminals could gain access to company data. To protect against this, businesses should invest in data encryption and security solutions. They should also have a data breach response plan in place that outlines how to handle a breach if one occurs.
• Phishing attacks: Cybercriminals could send phishing emails to employees in an attempt to gain access to company data. To protect against this, businesses should provide employees with training on how to identify and avoid phishing scams. They should also have a policy in place that requires employees to report suspicious emails.
• Malware infections: Employee devices could be infected with malware, which could allow cyber criminals to gain access to company systems. To protect against this, businesses should invest in malware detection and removal solutions. They should also have a policy in place that requires employees to report any suspected malware infections.
• Ransomware attacks: Cybercriminals could encrypt company data and demand a ransom to decrypt it. To protect against this, businesses should invest in data backup and recovery solutions. They should also have a ransomware response plan in place that outlines how to handle an attack if one occurs.

Although there are several cybersecurity risks that come with working remotely, they can all be prevented by taking the necessary precautions. Businesses should provide employees with guidance on how to keep their devices and accounts secure. They should also have policies in place that require employees to use company-issued email accounts and change their passwords regularly. And finally, businesses should invest in data encryption and security solutions, as well as malware detection and removal solutions. By taking these steps, businesses can help protect themselves from the cybersecurity risks of remote work.

Do you need help on how to stay safe from cybersecurity risks when working remotely? Contact us today and we would be more than happy to help you!