Security Tips Organizations Should Implement for Remote Working

Remote work is changing how the global workforce operates. Recent trends indicate that remote work is increasing and showing no signs of slowing down with 52 percent of employees working from home at least once weekly. A study of enterprises in the United States also revealed that about 3% of the general workforce work remotely.

The study further added that organizations are also embracing this growing desire of offering employees remote work opportunities to not only attract potential applicants but also ensure job satisfaction. Moreover, remote work has also enabled organizations to widen their search of finding the right person for a specific position as the world becomes their talent pool. 

The most common risk for organizations when it comes to working from home is the limited control on the security of the networks that employees are using. While virtual private networks (VPNs) provide some protection, traditional security measures may not be enough to protect a remote staff especially with the rise of innovative hacking techniques. 

This is why it is important for organizations to come up with important guidelines for employees before switching to a work from home setup. Outlined below are essential tips that every enterprise should follow to ensure a desirable remote working condition. 

Establish a work from home policy

Crafting work from home or teleworking policy is essential in minimizing the inherent risks of working remotely. In general, a teleworking plan helps establish a set of procedures that your workers should follow to ensure security and maximize their productivity. 

A work from home policy may also consist of additional security policies to define all the responsibilities of your employees regarding your information security program. Organizations should ensure that the policy is updated, that the input of information security experts is included and that its effectiveness against emerging threats is tested regularly. 

Promote the use of encryption technologies

Perhaps the most significant step to ensuring a safe work-from-home environment is the use of encryption tools for data protection. Encryption tools help protect confidential information and enhance the security of communication between servers and client applications. 

Setting up encryption technologies like two-factor and multi-factor authentication also helps enterprises remain compliant with regulatory standards. While customers need to take responsibility as well, organizations can solidify their reputations by integrating the most innovative security encryption technologies into their operations. 

Use mobile device management tools

Data surveys by Security Intelligence revealed that over 60 percent of organizations allow employees to use their devices in accessing business information. However, there are a plethora of challenges to having employees work remotely using their devices. 

Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools also provide employees with over-the-air distribution of configuration settings, applications, and data for a multitude of devices for increased security. Above all, MDM tools allow organizations to control and protect their information while minimizing support costs and business risks.

Conclusion

Business transformation almost always brings security risks. For some organizations, the speed and scale of this change will bring opportunity for scammers to penetrate their digital networks. 

This is why it is important for organizations to adhere to the tips mentioned above and use technologies that can enable them to operate regardless of the uncertainty. By using artificial technology systems that can adapt to change and constantly evolve, organizations will have a great chance of detecting risky behavior, attacks, and misconfigurations.

If you need more information or help to make sure you have the right remote working security solutions in place, reach out to one of our MicroAge locations to speak with an expert.