With so many companies pivoting to remote operations this year, strategies to keep your data and infrastructure secure have had to pivot as well. Today, we’ll go through some important variables that you need to address to maintain a secure and reliable computing environment when you are supporting a remote workforce.
Understanding the Situation
The first thing you have to understand is that your business is perpetually under attack. You may not think that is true, but we promise that you and your staff get several phishing messages each week. When people work remotely, it actually makes securing their endpoint harder because, by and large, the business doesn’t own the computer. This means that secure business information is being used right alongside an employee’s personal computing. Many of the most dangerous threats target end users directly so by understanding that fact, you can do what you need to do to build a process that works to combat that strategy.
Protect Your Most Sensitive Information
You have several levels of data. Some is not all that revealing, then there is data you wouldn’t want to lose, then there is data you absolutely need to protect. This typically includes proprietary information, personally identifiable information, and the like. Once you’ve identified what kind of data you have, you have to make plans to secure it. The most sensitive information needs to have more protection than data that is of little value.
To best protect this data, you should enact role-based access requirements using passwords (and two-factor authentication) or even biometrics to protect that data. It limits the exposure of this data and keeps it secure from unauthorized entities inside and outside of your business.
It’s also solid practice to promote the use of remote access software that allows them to use computing systems monitored and managed by your IT support team, rather than give them access to pull it onto the computer they are accessing it on. Sometimes it is inevitable that they will need physical copies of the files. For that you should have them...
Use a Virtual Private Network
One of the best ways to secure information when it is in transit is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). The VPN creates a secure connection by using an intermediary network to encrypt the data that is in transit. It’s a great tool when you have a workforce that is constantly sending and receiving data.
The remote workforce has changed the way businesses have to look at data sharing, data security, and cybersecurity. If you would like to talk to one of our expert consultants about tightening up your organizational IT security, call us today at (954) 575-3992.
