With the coronavirus isolation and shops closing on the Highstreet, more people are now working from home than ever before. Official government statics have shown 1.3 million of us are now working from home, with a further 300,000 working on the same grounds or building as our homes.
While working from home can be lonely sometimes, figures have shown that working from home can be more productive than working in the office. 77 percent of those offered flexible work arrangements reported an increase in productivity.
Working from home has numerous benefits for employees but can also present additional security risks for businesses.
Businesses must have clear guidance on the use of portable devices and desktops that are connecting to a corporate network. Company policies and guidelines must include:
- Wi-Fi must be secure with WPA2-PSK mode.
- Use a VPN (virtual private network) when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.
- Strong passwords that include letters, symbols, and numbers. Passwords must have an expiration date.
- Educate users with user awareness course.
- Keep work data on work computers. Data must not be saved on personal devices that are accessible to others that are not employees.
- Encrypt sensitive data in emails
- Up to date antivirus software running on devices connecting to the business network
- Lock devices when stepping away from them
