Best Cybersecurity Practices for Remote Workers 

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Keep company and customer data secure by using the best cybersecurity practices for remote workers. 

Following the lockdowns affecting global businesses at the height of the pandemic, the remote working revolution has exploded in popularity. However, with hiring offsite workers can present several cybersecurity  challenges. 

In fact, years later, around 72% of business owners are still concerned about remote work security risks. But, are firms generally doing enough to strengthen their security while working remotely? 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the biggest remote cybersecurity challenges, and discuss the best cybersecurity practices for remote workers so they can protect information and data evolving cybercriminal threats. 

Before we run through some crucial cybersecurity best practices for remote workers, let’s take a quick look at the work from home (WFH) landscape right now. 

Overview of Cybersecurity Challenges in Remote Work 

Over the past four years, many businesses have gradually woken up to the fact that remote workers are here to stay – and that WFH cybersecurity is a critical matter, rather than a passing phase. 

Research shows that around a third of Americans are now choosing to work remotely. That means business owners have had to adjust, rapidly, to losing access to managing people in-house. 

Moreover, remote security risks have intensified with technology ever evolving. Even in 2024, securing remote environments effectively remains one of the biggest challenges in distributed workforce management. 

For example, here are some of the most concerning remote working cybersecurity risks affecting firms right now: 

• Poor password security: Remote employees are largely responsible for creating and protecting passwords outside of central management 

• Use of personal or unsecured devices: Employees risk losing data or security credentials by using devices without reasonable protections or updated software 

• Social engineering: Offsite workers can fall prey to common social tricks such as phishing and give away confidential information 

• Backup failures: Without a centralized backup plan, employees are wholly responsible for saving their files securely and locating them at a later date 

• Use of unsecured internet access: Business owners and managers can’t control where employees connect to work – they could, for instance, use unsecured public hotspots or outdated Wi-Fi protocols 

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Many of the cybersecurity work from home challenges listed here can be mitigated by employees alone – but in some cases, managers and business owners can lay out important groundwork for securing remote environments. 

Before we explore some recommended WFH cybersecurity best practices, don’t forget we also have a comprehensive guide on general remote work practices you can use to help your enterprise thrive. Be sure to take a look and note what best applies to your situation. 

Best Practices for Securing Remote Environments 

Tightening up cybersecurity and remote work looks slightly different for every company. For instance, not all of the tips below will apply to small, tight-knit teams. In some cases, they might not even apply to firms operating on hybrid work. 

Therefore, remember that the remote work landscape is still changing – and use the following tips as a general springboard to inform your own unique set of practices!  

Run Internal Penetration Testing 

As a business owner, it’s vital to understand your security posture and threat vulnerability from the inside as well as the outside. To simulate potential insider threats, internal penetration testing is conducted by a specialized team of experts. This approach assesses how insiders might leak data or cause security breaches. 

This is a thorough procedure that’s recommended at least once or twice a year. Experts who run the tests with you will share training tips and make recommendations on how to tighten up remote work cybersecurity. 

Practice Strong Password Creation and Handling 

Of all the remote work cybersecurity best practices in this list, password strength and entropy has become one of the most important to follow up on.  

The vast majority of people are using technically weak passwords – and it’s not always easy to manage remote employees to ensure they take the right steps to stay secure. 

As a manager or business owner, encourage the use of password generation and protection tools. You should also set up multi-factor authentication on every system that allows you to enable it, so that employees have to check several devices before they log in. Multi-Factor authentication is significantly more useful in securing your devices than stronger passwords are. 

Encourage VPN Connections 

VPNs, or virtual private networks, allow for greater WFH cybersecurity because they mask users’ IP addresses. Due to the benefits of a VPN, it can help to remedy any potential router or home security issues employees may have by purely using their standard broadband or insecure Wi-Fi. 

Keep Work and Personal Devices Separate 

Some people warn against mixing work and personal lives together – and when it comes to security while working remotely, it’s an adage worth sticking to! 

If you’re a business owner or manager, consider investing in work-only devices for your team. As an employee, you might also think about buying separate hardware for your remote work. 

In the interest of keeping confidential work data away from personal machines, it’s not unheard of for firms to provide financial stipends so remote workers can choose their own devices, such as laptops or MacBooks. 

In addition, look at endpoint software that will protect your endpoints that access corporate data. Employee’s computers, personal or corporate provided are one of the most vulnerable and susceptible to attack. 

Keep Software Updated 

One of the best ways to keep cybersecurity and remote work in check is to simply update software whenever new versions are released. For example, outdated operating systems and data storage apps could give hackers easy backdoor access. 

Don’t ignore Windows and MacOS updates. Update as soon as possible before accessing any sensitive information. 

Conclusion 

Now that you know some of the biggest cybersecurity challenges in remote work, it’s time to start creating an action plan. 

However, remember that the best cybersecurity practices for remote workers outlined here are just a few ideas to get you started. Work closely with security experts and dig deeper into your unique security needs to create a plan you and your workforce can stick to on a daily basis.