With remote work becoming the standard for numerous global businesses, it brings both flexibility and significant cybersecurity risks. As cyber-attacks continue to rise, safeguarding data and systems becomes paramount. Organizations are modifying their networks and systems to support remote work, but insufficient technology can impede their progress. Cybercriminals are actively seeking weaknesses in recently implemented or temporary IT infrastructure.
In this blog, we have carefully curated a checklist to safeguard your company from remote work cyber threats.
Checklist for Remote Employees’ Cybersecurity:
Risk and Governance:
- Update and communicate the rules for using personal devices for work.
- Find secure ways to perform tasks that require a safe IT environment.
- Plan for any disruptions caused by COVID-19 that could affect your business.
- Keep your incident response and disaster recovery plans up to date.
- Regularly remind employees about cybersecurity practices.
IT Infrastructure:
- Provide secure access solutions for increasing remote users.
- Ensure endpoint security to protect devices.
- Keep remote workers’ software updated.
- Check if any rules block remote access.
- Increase IT help desk availability to support remote workers.
Cyber Operations:
- Monitor critical systems for suspicious activity and respond accordingly.
- Review and update VPN profiles for appropriate access privileges.
- Require approval for remote accounts associated with critical business applications.
- Disable split tunneling to prevent direct access to corporate systems.
- Set up a channel for employees to report suspicious emails.
Cybersecurity Tips for Employee Operations:
General Tips:
- Emphasize the importance of keeping data confidential.
- Advise employees not to share work devices with others.
- Inform employees that cybersecurity protocols apply at their home office too.
- Set up a VPN for secure remote working.
- Be cautious about email forwarding and keep an eye on it.
- Ensure systems and applications are regularly updated.
Tips for Company Policies and Illegal Activities:
- Remind employees of company usage policies.
- Inform employees that viewing explicit material is illegal.
- Remind employees to follow the company’s social media policy.
- Encourage the use of certified USB drives and trusted cloud services.
- Assure employees that reporting mistakes is supported.
Tips for Passwords:
- Caution against sharing passwords via SMS or email.
- Encourage the use of complex passwords that can’t be easily guessed.
- Remind employees to remember their passwords without relying on reset requests.
- Make two-factor authentication mandatory for logins.
Tips for Mobile Devices:
- Implement appropriate security measures for mobile devices with company data.
- Educate employees using personal devices about phishing and malware threats.
- Advise against downloading from untrusted sources.
Tips for Online Meetings and Calls:
- Turn off smart devices while discussing sensitive information during online meetings.
- Encourage muting microphones when not speaking in meetings.
- Promote regular check-ins and sharing contact information.
- Make it a habit to block cameras physically or through settings.
Tips for Phishing Emails and Scams:
- Caution against opening Covid-related pop-ups on work devices.
- Encourage quick reporting of malware and ransomware on work devices.
- Increase awareness of various social engineering attacks.
- Double-check email addresses to ensure they come from trusted sources.
Tips for Cyber Attacks and Incident Response:
- Simplify reporting procedures for any incidents.
- Explain that a new system is being implemented and problems can be fixed.
- Keep printed checklists at home in a secure location.
- Develop an incident response policy if one is not already in place.
Tips for Client Privacy:
- Remind employees to respect client privacy while working from home.
- Discourage printing sensitive client information at home.
Remember that companies need to address cybersecurity challenges for remote work to protect their business. By following these recommendations and having a cybersecurity insurance policy, you can run your business confidently and securely. Invest in a secure remote working environment and get the best cybersecurity insurance quotes at BimaKavach.
