The Coronavirus pandemic has made remote working the new normal. Some staff love remote-working but others hate it. Whatever your preference, the thing to focus on is security. The new norm has presented challenges for small companies and large. Unfortunately, remote staff have experienced an increase in online scams and cyber-security threats. To help, here are four cybersecurity tips for remote-working.
1. Keep software up to date.
Updating software can be a nuisance, especially for small businesses who often do not have an in-house IT team. However, updating software prevents problems arising and fixes them faster. Keeping on top of updates is a lot cheaper and more manageable than picking up the pieces after a cyber-attack.
Since the pandemic began, Microsoft has produced a spike in the number of patches needed to fix security vulnerabilities. May 2020 was the fourth month in succession when patch demand was increasing, showing that hackers were targeting the new remote working trend. Therefore, your business must keep on top of patch management and software updates for enhanced security.
We know that this is difficult to manage. So, that is why you can take advantage of our Remote Monitoring and Management service, starting at £3/ month/ PC. We can automatically take care of security and updates for you, and alert you if there is anything wrong with your computer.
2. Make sure user accounts are secure.
When a higher volume of your staff work from other locations, it is essential that user accounts are properly secured. As a bare minimum, we recommend that users ensure they have secure passwords. The password should be at least eight characters long. Passwords should also be unique across every account within the organisation. As a result, this minimises the blow if hackers do get hold of any passwords. Additionally, you can ask the staff to change their passwords regularly.
How to create s strong password.
There are some excellent strategies to help you generate your own longer complex passwords. For example, select a common phrase you will remember. For example, a word associated with each online service you are logging into such as “I don’t like buying insurance”. Then pick a set of numbers “3,5,7,9,11” and insert those numbers between the first letters of each word of the phase. Add a capital letter and a special character or two, which makes: i3D5l7b9i11)!
An additional way to ensure user accounts are secure is by enabling multi-factor authentication. As a result, this adds an extra element of security by sending verification codes, often to your mobile phone. For example, Microsoft Office 365 offers two-factor authentication to business email accounts.
We are a Microsoft Silver Partners and have over twenty years as a Managed Security Service Provider. We can assist you in increasing security without making it impossible for staff to work.
3. Invest in reliable antivirus software.
Implementing reliable antivirus/anti-malware software on every computer is essential, as it has the power to stop malicious software. Antivirus software must also be updated regularly to stay reliable. We would recommend ensuring that all remote workers in your company have details on how to install and update antivirus software.
At Northstar, we can advise you on the best antivirus software to use for remote working and use our automated remote monitoring and maintenance software to check that everything is working.
4. Be mindful of online scams.
One of the most significant threats remote workers face is online scams. For instance, sophisticated emails tricking workers into exchanging personal or business information. Bogus telephone calls with people pretending to be from your bank. They often quote alarmingly accurate details of your company or transactions. Cybercriminals can be incredibly convincing. They often imitate reputable companies in an attempt to get you to click on a link containing malware. As a result, they steal confidential information or make bank transfers.
To ensure you or one of your staff members do not fall victim to these scams, putting business data at risk, you must ensure everyone in the company is careful of what websites they visit.
Tell your staff to never give out information on the telephone unless they have made the telephone call themselves. Implement software that only allows staff to sites with a good reputation. Sites that get infected are quickly flagged and blocked until they are safe again.
We are here to help.
Although remote working poses several challenges to businesses, you do not have to face these challenges alone. At Northstar, we can help you refine your software and practices to keep data is safe and can provide IT support tailored to your business needs. We help you reach your business goals during high growth and during difficult times. Ask us for more information on tips to share with your staff, to make sure you are aware of how you can minimise the risk of a cyber-attack.
