Do Not Connect through Unsecured Wi-Fi
To improve security relative to your internet access while working remotely, consider the following options:
- Connect to the Internet using wired connections. Not only will they be more secure, but they might also be faster.
- If wired connections are not practical, secure your wi-fi connection with a strong password. You may need to re-configure your wi-fi router to add this password.
Consider Using a Virtual Private Network to Improve Remote Access Security
Be Aware of Bring Your Own Device Risk
In short, when working from home, try to use devices managed by your IT team. When this occurs, we shift the security issues associated with the computer to professionals who should have adequate training for the task. If, however, you must use your device to work remotely, at a minimum, ensure that your operating system and all your applications have the most recent updates available. Also, verify that anti-malware software is installed on the computer and is updated at least daily. These measures help to reduce BYOD risk when working from home.
Watch Out for Leaving Data Behind
To address this issue, consider storing all your data on an external hard disk and then taking that hard disk with you to the office when normal operations resume. Better yet, if your organization provides access to Cloud-based storage such as OneDrive for Business, store the files there. That way, you can collaborate with either team members in real-time using Microsoft Office applications.