When everything went on lockdown in March 2020, businesses scrambled to implement temporary practices to stay afloat. On top of that, we all adjusted to the new Work from Home (WFH) life – juggling roles like teacher, parent, co-worker, and employee, all while navigating the shift to remote work.
Now, after more than a year, many of those temporary practices remain in place. Businesses are now asking whether a hybrid or work from home plan will continue long-term, and how they can ensure security while working remotely.
These are important questions to consider, but there’s one more crucial question that needs to be addressed: What do you need to implement for optimal work from home security?
Here are nine essential steps we recommend for creating a secure WFH environment for your business:
1. Create a “Work-from-Home” Policy
First things first: you need a structured policy! This ensures that both you and your employees are clear on expectations regarding work from home devices and data security. Your policy should address many of the topics we’ll discuss in this post and Part II.
2. Watch Out for Phishing
Phishing attacks are one of the most common security threats. Have you ever received an email with a suspicious link, congratulating you for being a winner? This is a typical phishing tactic. According to Barracuda Networks, phishing emails related to COVID-19 increased by 667% in March 2020 alone. As more remote work continues, phishing scams have surged, putting your data at risk.
To train your team on identifying phishing attempts, reach out to us at info@macatawatechnologies.com for expert advice!
3. Consider Your Server
A common question we’ve received during this work from home transition is whether businesses still need physical servers or firewalls when employees are no longer working in the office. The answer depends on your business setup and how your employees collaborate.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you have applications that need to be accessed by everyone in your team?
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Is there sensitive data that you prefer not to store in the cloud?
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How secure are you with storing data remotely?
4. Think About Your Firewall
Personal-grade firewalls simply aren’t as secure as business-grade solutions. Working outside the office means one less layer of protection for your network. To make up for this, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for added security while remote working.
5. Personal vs. Corporate Devices
A Webroot study cited by Channel Futures showed that there was a 40% increase in unsecured remote desktop machines used for remote work between March and September of 2020. Has your business defined its personal vs. corporate device policy yet?
Here are some key considerations for this policy:
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What actions are prohibited on personal devices?
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Who is responsible for updates or new hardware?
6. Consider File Sharing
A crucial question to ask is: How do you securely share files with your team when working from home?
Here are a few options:
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Access them directly from your network when connected
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Connect remotely into the network from home
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Move your files to the cloud for easy access from anywhere
If you’re planning to stay remote long-term, moving files to the cloud is a great option. It allows seamless access from any location but be sure to review your business’ policies and security needs before making this decision.
7. Choose a Phone System
Beyond device policies, don’t forget to establish a clear phone system policy.
Consider these questions:
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Will the company provide employees with a phone?
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Will the company cover the employee’s phone plan?
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Are there usage restrictions on the employee’s phone?
Additionally, you need to decide whether employees will use personal phones or if the business will invest in a dedicated phone system. A cloud-based phone system can allow employees to manage work calls via an app, ensuring work and personal calls remain separate while offering flexibility when working remotely.
8. Consider the Culture
How might your organization’s culture shift when employees are working remotely? For us, being neighborly is part of our core values – and while it’s easier to be neighborly in person, it’s a bit trickier on Microsoft Teams.
As businesses weigh whether to return to the office, it’s important to consider how the remote work model impacts culture and communication. Can your company maintain strong relationships and collaborative efforts when everyone is working from home?
9. Work from Home Etiquette
For many of us, work from home is still relatively new. There’s no rulebook for proper work from home etiquette, but we recommend considering these tips:
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Establish a professional space for virtual meetings: Would you invite a client into your bedroom? Probably not. Make sure your background reflects your professionalism.
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Create a policy with clear expectations: Your work from home security policy should also outline guidelines on virtual meeting setups, dress code, and appropriate backgrounds to maintain your company’s image.
