Combating the Risks of Remote Working

Continuous technological advancements have made it possible for both employers and employees to have a more conducive work setup that is highly beneficial to both parties - remote working. It allows the workforce to push through and comply with their deliverables anywhere they are, whereas organizations are given the opportunity to hire the best candidate for the job, no matter where they're located.

Unfortunately, it's also inevitable for both the company and its workers to face a few risks in this kind of situation. Using antivirus scan online is helpful in dealing with these issues.

Vulnerable Personal Data

Since most people who work from home usually use the same software and hardware to manage their personal and work lives, unfortunate events such as having their laptops stolen could result in the loss of sensitive information for their clients, as well as for themselves.

Utilizing New Tools

As opposed to the standardized equipment typically used in a conventional office, remote workers use a variety of software and hardware on their own. This means that there are no established policies and procedures for securing those pieces of equipment for either party.

Online Vulnerabilities

Another great risk for remote workers is the vulnerability of their data when sharing it online, particularly when they have to use public Wi-Fi. This can potentially expose valuable information to opportunistic cyber eavesdroppers who can spy on transferred data and steal private logins and passwords, among other things.

From an organizational standpoint, some of the major security risks posed by remote workers to employers are:

• Inability to enforce security
• Lack of commitment to security best practices
• Risky behavior

Fortunately, there are so many precautionary measures as simple as utilizing a reliable antivirus scan online, which both parties can take to battle the risks mentioned above. Here are a few other tips:

For Companies

• Training and awareness

  Cybercriminals often take advantage of laziness or a lack of awareness of their targets to move on with their attack. This risk becomes a lot higher, especially for remote workers who are beyond the watchful eye of an IT manager who's savvy about safety. As such, it's essential for a company to have every employee go through a security training that directly tackles common risks associated with remote work. After that, they should then ensure their workforce thoroughly trained and understand the importance of complying with security policies.

• Using the right tools

  Apart from real-time communication and collaboration companies with remote employees should also use more efficient tools for online transfer and storage of documents. Apparently, if the company does not provide adequate tools, the employees are the ones who try to look for them themselves to serve their needs. While it's true that these tools are not completely unsecured, they may lack many of the protections businesses need. This is the best time for your company to take advantage of dependable tools, such as the Comodo Internet Security (CIS) - the best antivirus scan online of 2024.

• Encryption

  Studies show that physical theft or lost devices account for about 15 percent of all data breaches. This is because accessing sensitive data directly through a user's device is one of the easiest ways for a hacker to execute an attack. In light of this, implementing device encryption can greatly enhance the security of remote workers' laptops and render information on a lost or stolen computer inaccessible. Doing so also take some of the responsibility for security off of employee's shoulders through enforcing necessary security policies and automating some of the protection process.

For Employees

• Separate work data and personal information from one another, preferably on different devices.
• Never send or open sensitive attachments over public Wi-Fi. Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and switch them off when not in use.
• Consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) so that internet traffic is encrypted, particularly if connected to a public wifi network.
• While it’s tempting to use the same passwords and logins, and to select the Remember me checkbox for online mail, storage and other cloud applications, it’s best to change passwords routinely.
• Utilize iOS’s Find My Device or similar features on laptops and phones to have a fighting chance of retrieving a lost or stolen device.
• Save data using secure cloud-based services instead of keeping everything on a laptop.
• After completing a project, the client’s data should be properly erased after encrypting it and backing it up to a secure location.
• Always update all software.
• Utilize reliable security software and tools, such as antivirus scan online, firewalls, web filtering software, and device encryption.

Working remotely can bring so many benefits for both a company and its employees. Just be sure to create and implement policies and procedures that explicitly cover security, even if it costs a bit of money upfront.

Comodo Internet Security

For a robust security software packed with features, choose Comodo Internet Security. It can easily identify and eliminate new attacks through its virus database that contains up-to-date definitions. Moreover, Comodo Internet Security uses an auto-sandbox technology that can run unknown executables and other files in a virtual container, keeping your legitimate files safe.