Many businesses are letting employees work from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Yet, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to work-from-home cybersecurity, so it can be exceedingly difficult for remote employees to guard against cyberattacks and data breaches.  

Employees are responsible for securing their business devices and data. However, working remotely can inadvertently cause employees to expose business devices and data to cyber risks. The result: employees may be increasingly exposed to malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats when they work from home, and they may inadvertently put their devices and data in danger.  

When it comes to working from home, it helps to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. In fact, there are many things that employees can do to secure their devices and data while they work remotely, such as: 

1. Ensure Your Home Network Is Secure

Download the latest security patches onto your home router. Securing your home router is crucial, so you should keep an eye out for new security patches going forward as well. It may also be beneficial to set up automatic updates, so you can instantly download new security patches as soon as they become available.  

Along with leveraging the latest security patches, you should update your router’s password, particularly if the default device password is still in place. Use a router password that contains a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters to minimize the risk that hackers can illegally access your home network.   

2. Watch for Phishing Emails

Open email links and attachments only from senders you know and trust. Otherwise, you may be victimized by phishing emails, i.e. malicious messages that hackers often use to breach devices and networks.  

There are many signs that an email may be a part of a phishing campaign. For instance, a phishing email may contain misspellings and come from an unknown sender. Phishing emails frequently include requests for personal information, too.  

3. Use Two-Factor Authentication

Ensure that two-factor authentication (2FA) is set up on all business accounts. With 2FA in place, you will need to enter your username and password and complete a second step to verify your identity before you can access these accounts. That way, you can use 2FA to further reduce the risk of a data breach.  

In addition to 2FA, it is usually a good idea to leverage different passwords across your business accounts. Furthermore, you may want to use a password manager, which can help you quickly and securely access your accounts any time you choose.  

Finally, stay up to date on cybersecurity recommendations and guidance from your employer. This helps ensure that you can protect yourself and your business against data breaches while you work from home.  

Achieve Your Career Aspirations with Help from HCR 

At HCR, we are happy to provide cybersecurity guidance to remote workers. We also can help you pursue a wide range of light industrial roles in the Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario. To learn more about how we help job seekers achieve their career aspirations, please contact us today.