Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, both large and small companies shifted to working remotely to help keep people safe. This caused a lot of stress as many companies were not prepared to deal with this shift. Smaller businesses did not have the time or resources to develop a plan for how to deal with working remotely. This has left them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and has led to an increase in those attacks.
Hackers utilize many tactics such as tricking employees into using unsecured networks, developing phishing scams, and other attempts to compromise and steal sensitive information. That’s why developing a cybersecurity plan is more important than ever before. Here is a look at some security tips for employees working from home.
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Change Your Home Router Password
For security reasons, make sure that you change your password every few weeks. Block any outbound traffic through the network. Stick to WPA encryption levels and switch off WPS. Be sure to update your firmware once new versions become available.
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Use High-Quality Antivirus Software
One of the most important cybersecurity tips is to use high-quality antivirus software. Antivirus software will help pinpoint and eliminate malicious activity. Keep all antivirus software up to date as hackers are constantly coming up with new viruses and schemes. Set up a firewall to also help protect your data.
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Rely On VPN
Set up a Virtual Private Network. A Virtual Private Network encrypts all of your internet traffic, which prevents hackers from intercepting it.
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Back-Up All of Your Data
When it comes to increasing your cybersecurity, backing up your data is one of the more effective and important steps to take. An off-site data backup can make it more difficult for hackers to infiltrate your network and cause damages. The cloud is often a good choice as a backup location.
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Create Difficult Passwords
Make sure that the network and personal passwords are difficult to decipher. If you need assistance creating a unique password, use a password manager program.
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Multi-Step Authentication
Multi-step authentication is a simple and often overlooked cybersecurity tool. To help make things more difficult for hackers, use an email or complex verification software. Install any new security updates as soon as you receive a notification.
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Beware of Phishing Emails
Hackers are always looking for ways to cause trouble. The use of phishing emails is a tactic often utilized by hackers. Phishing emails spoof reputable companies and rely on you clicking on attachments or links in the email. A phishing email is an easy way for hackers to launch severe attacks that can lead to stolen sensitive information. Hovering over the sender’s email address will show the actual email address rather than the sender’s name which is easily spoofed. Verifying email addresses is an easy way to spot fraudulent activity. Never input personal information into a website opened up from the link in an email. It is always best to manually go to a trusted website before you enter any personal or login information.
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Consider Using Single Sign On Tools
Single Sign On is a tool that allows everyone in the company to log into their applications using one direct set of credentials. A Single Sign On Tool is convenient and reduces the risk of a cyber attack.
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Lock Your Computer
Once you are finished working for the day, lock your computer. Locking your computer decreases the chances of you being a victim of a cyber attack. This is one of the most important security tips for work from home.
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Do Not Send Important Info Over Email Or Text
Email and texting are good for regular communication. However, these forms of communication should not be used to exchange sensitive information. The exchange is documented on both sets of devices, which increases the chances that a hacker could corrupt the data. You should use encrypted file sharing methods to exchange sensitive company information.
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Use A Separate Network
Make sure that you are conducting company business on a separate network from the one attached to other devices around your home, including your electronics, security system or refrigerator. Some of the networks that your home electronics use are not secured. Set up a guest network on your home router to work from. This will help you avoid the possibility that a hacker infiltrates the network one of your other home devices uses to cause trouble.
About RMS Insurance Brokerage, LLC
At RMS Insurance Brokerage, our expertly crafted policies are written specifically for the hospitality industry. We offer custom-tailored solutions to meet any venue’s specific needs. For more information, contact our experts today at (516) 742-8585.