Remote Working: Five Best Ways To Prevent A Data Breach

The world is moving fast and finding time to bond with our workmates is becoming increasingly difficult. With the impact of the Coronavirus many more organisations are engaging with the need to have remote workers to meet the needs of their customers. This has become a universal trend and may even become the 'new normal'.   By Jennifer Holland

When it comes to remote teams working away from the cocoon of a corporate firewal and professional supervision data security is a real concern. Data leakages will only be avoided  by embracing game-changing cybersecurity technology and safe working methods.

Here are five recommendations to help prevent a disastrous data breach:- 

Use Secure Internet Connections

Using insecure connections can expose the company's data. Ensure that the remote workers use a virtual private network (VPN). Using a VPN network encrypts the employee's internet traffic, therefore preventing possible data breaches. Regardless of the workplace place, the company is in total control of its data. There are different types of VPN networks. The company must invest wisely in the personnel and technology to ensure that the VPN in use covers last-mile encryptions and every other possible data breaches. It is vital to use a reputable VPN provider whose services have been tried and approved by other companies. Strong passwords should be used to secure these networks, and unrestricted entry implemented to prevent logins by unauthorized people. 

Establish Good Cybersecurity Policies

Many employees have no idea of the importance of data security. Companies should, therefore, educate all their employees on the importance of securing data. It should be part of the orientations that remote employees undergo before starting their professional careers. Downplaying the importance of civic education has led to the fall of several companies.

Establishing a cybersecurity policy does not guarantee a company's data; the employees must personally review the data policy. Remote employees are the most crucial lot because they transmit vast volumes of data to the company's headquarters manually. These workers must sign the data security policy. 

An acceptable security policy contains the security procedures employees should follow and the penalties for breaching the guidelines. CIOs and CTOs must ensure that the policies are followed by all the employees to ensure the safety of data.   

Use Firewalls & Malware Protection

It is essential to apply the best cybersecurity practices when securing your company's data without forgetting the necessary security protocols. There should be a balance between emerging technologies and the basics to ensure data safety. 

Communication devices like computers and mobile phones that remote workers use should have antivirus and malware software. This prevents access to the company's data by unauthorized persons. Conducting regular maintenance on these gadgets is very important. The routine checks by specialists expose any malicious activity on the devices.

Partnering with the local tech support service providers to educate remote workers on cybersecurity procedures helps prevent possible gaps that lack of knowledge posses after implementing the security procedures. 

Implement Data Loss Prevention

Data loss is not always a topic for many people until incidents happen. They are often caused by human error. For instance, a remote worker can accidentally send a sensitive email to the wrong person by entering the recipient's email wrongly. Implementing the data loss policy prevents the occurrence of such issues. 

The procedures followed when sharing data is defined in the data loss prevention policy. The data loss policy also highlights a safe way of using data without exposing it to other people. It is a procedure followed to prevent unauthorized people from accessing data.

With proper implementation of data loss policy, the risks of data loss is reduced significantly. Access to sensitive information should be restricted and only authorized workers should have permission for it. You must first understand the idea behind implementing the data loss policies and what you want to protect. 

Hiring Qualified Workers

The primary assurance of protecting your company's data is the remote worker. Many people are not self-motivated and these people make impoverished remote workers.They must be micro-managed to deliver. Hiring the wrong remote workers is a danger to the safety of your company's data. A simple laxity by a lazy worker can result in the loss of sensitive data.  

All employees should have the necessary education and training to ensure the proper management of data. Being versatile is an essential component when recruiting remote workers. Versatile workers are ready to learn; therefore, teaching them the importance of data protection and security protocols becomes easy.  

Conclusion

Remote teams play a critical role in the success of many companies. When managing this group of workers, you must be mindful of the underlying possible data breaches. To avoid these circumstances, you must lay down several precautions to prevent data loss. Ensure that the information system is secure and all the remote workers know the dangers that data loss poses to the company. Implement all the security protocols that the company has laid down to ensure that the information is secure. A secure information system means a safe company. 

Jennifer Holland is a freelance  blogger and writer. She gives professional writing services on Software and IT

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