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Staying Secure While Working from Home
With more people working remotely, it’s vital to take cyber security seriously at home. Unlike in-office environments, home setups often lack the protection provided by corporate networks, but with a few simple steps you can keep your work and data safe.
If your organisation has an IT policy in place, make sure to implement this into your home working. It’s important to know how to follow good practice when handling your organisation’s information as well as knowing what to do and who to contact if you suspect a cyber security breach. This knowledge will reassure you that your working from home set-up is all in order.
Strengthening your passwords is vital. Use three random words to create secure, memorable logins, and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA), wherever possible. This means even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your accounts without the second step of verification.
Make sure your devices and software are always up to date. Cyber criminals target known flaws, so enabling automatic updates helps patch vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Your devices usually give you a notification to tell you when software or an app is ready to be updated. Don’t ignore this message.
Your home WI-FI should be secured too. Do not forget about your WI-FI router, make sure it also has a strong password and that it’s using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption. If you’re unsure how, check your WI-FI providers instructions.
Keep Phishing scams in mind as they remain a major common threat. Always be cautious of unexpected emails, especially those with links or attachments. If something looks suspicious, don’t click – check with your IT team first.
Stick to company approved tools and software; avoid downloading apps from unknown sources. It’s also wise to back up your work regularly to cloud storage or an encrypted external drive.
Lastly, remember that your work devices are for work only. Don’t let others use them and always lock your screen when you’re away.
Key Takeaways:
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable 2FA
- Keep devices and software up to date
- Secure your WI-FI with a strong password and encryption
- Be alert for phishing attempts – think before you click
- Use only trusted, approved software
- Back up your data regularly
- Keep work devices private and lock your screen when unattended
Taking these simple precautions will help you create a safe and secure working environment.