With more people working from home these days, the issue of how to do it safely is on the minds of many. For some, this is their first time working from home which has them especially concerned about viruses and hackers affecting their computers. 

Firewalls, DNS, and IDS could be ineffective when employees go home. That’s why businesses should be proactive. According to Dan Garcia, Senior Security Engineer II at Datto, “Most environments that support VPNs should be able to protect the remote user, so be sure to account for the bandwidth of users and remote desktops.”

Let’s take a look at what both employers and employees and can do to make it safer to work from home.

What Employers Can Do to Help Employees Work Securely from Home

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has encouraged organizations to adopt a heightened state of cybersecurity as the COVID-19 pandemic has more people working from home. According to the CISA, remote work options require a VPN solution to connect employees to an organization’s network.  Here are some recommendations for employers:

• Update VPNs, network infrastructure devices, and devices being used to remote into work environments with the latest software patches and security configurations. 
• Alert employees about an unexpected increase in phishing attempts.
• Implement MFA on all VPN connections to increase security.
• Encourage employees to use strong passwords.
• Ensure IT security personnel test VPN limitations to prepare for mass usage and, if possible, implement modifications—such as rate-limiting—to prioritize users that will require higher bandwidths.
• Rely solely on company hardware and connecting through a VPN and limit the use of employees’ personal devices.

What Employees Can Do to Work Securely from Home

Employees must also be proactive when it comes to working securely from home. Here are some tips to make that happen if you’re working from home:

 

Use a Secure WiFi Network

If possible, always work on a secure private home network instead of public WiFi. If you use an unsecured WiFi connection, you’re making it easier for cybercriminals to get your data. You may be putting personal information at risk if you are accessing your email account or sending sensitive data over a public WiFi network. 

The network needs to be secure through the use of a VPN and a strong password that hackers won’t be able to guess. 

Secure Your Home Workstation

Be sure you have fully patched and updated any anti-virus and anti-malware software. If you suspect any suspicious activity, be sure to report it to your company’s IT department.

Coordinate with Your Internal IT or MSP

Employees should be in contact with their company’s IT department or MSP so that they can alert them to any issues that should arise. If you’re using a company computer (which you should be), working from home should be pretty straightforward. But, if you are using a personal computer, you may run into issues that require help from your company’s IT department.

Back-Up Your Work

Online backup services are useful if they’re available. If not, consider using external drives to back up computers. Using local storage isn’t always recommended due to the potential of hackers getting your information.

Following these tips can make both employers and employees feel more secure about working from home. As more people work from home and use office and personal computers more often, there may be a greater chance of those computers having trouble or breaking down. If you need professional assistance when it comes to a business or home computer, contact Enterprise Computer today at 860-664-3730. Find out how we can service your computer online without you having to leave your house!