85% of managers believe that having a remote workforce will become the new norm. Given 16% of global companies now operate entirely remotely, it’s safe to assume that the new norm has already arrived.
As a result, safety tips for remote working have become more critical than ever.
We’ve outlined the following safety tips to ensure your company remains protected. As long as you’re following this advice, your company, its information, and its employees can stay safe when operating remotely.
Make Sure Your Remote Workforce Embraces the Cloud
One of the most challenging aspects of organizing a remote workforce is ensuring that your data remains protected. As every employee will be using their own device, you need to embrace a cloud storage system.
By adopting a cloud storage system, all your employees will be saving their work onto the cloud. This means that if anything happens to their personal computer or laptop, it won’t end up in a crisis for your company.
However, the benefits of the cloud extend further than just keeping your files secure. The cloud can also ensure smoother collaboration between your employees.
This is particularly important for a remote workforce; with the cloud, your employees can share files and data with each other freely. They’ll also be able to edit directly onto certain files simultaneously, which is essential in many working environments today.
Endpoint Security and 2-factor Authentification
Endpoints are the ending section of any communication channel. That means desktops, tablets, laptops, mobile phones, and many other devices used for work are classified as endpoints.
Managing a remote workforce requires your employees to understand basic endpoint security. If their devices become infiltrated, your company’s data immediately becomes compromised.
A reliable way to secure your endpoints lies in log-in methods. By establishing 2-factor authentication for your employees, you add an extra layer of security over their devices.
If you’re particularly concerned about your company’s security, you can go even further. It’s possible to install multi-factor authentication with three or more authentication methods.
Educate Your Employees on Cybersecurity
You can’t rely on your employees to keep your company information safe if they’ve not been trained in cybersecurity. This is why it’s advisable to invest in cybersecurity training.
All your remote employees should receive at least a basic level of training in the importance of security. This should include reference to all the other tips listed in this article.
Without training, there’s no guarantee that your employees understand the security measures you’ve installed. If you want to maintain productivity, you can organize a group training session. That way, the training process itself won’t take up as much of your employee’s time.
If you’re not able to handle this training yourself, it may be worth hiring an external trainer.
Equip Your Remote Workers with the Tools and Software They Need
You should also ensure that you’ve provided your employees the tools to stay safe online. An obvious example is anti-virus software.
If you choose to invest in a password manager, make sure it’s from a reputable provider. You should only invest in a company with proven experience.
Choosing a weak solution can further compromise your business in the long run. This is particularly true of password managers, as they hold all your passwords in one place.
It’s also helpful to equip all your employees with the same software, such as Microsoft 365. This makes it easier to manage your team and can make educating your employees far less time-consuming.
Regulate Personal Devices Where Possible
Not every business has a big enough tech budget to provide every employee with a work laptop. But, if you do have employees relying on personal devices, they need to be regulated appropriately.
Make sure you’ve assessed every personal laptop or desktop before your employee starts using it for work. This way, you can guarantee these devices are password protected and set up securely for remote working.
You should also avoid allowing your remote employees to work from too many personal devices. That includes devices like mobile phones and tablets unless it’s absolutely necessary. The more devices your remote employees use, the more entry points a potential hacker has.
Adopt a Zero Trust Policy
“Zero Trust” is a cybersecurity methodology initially developed by Microsoft. It means that any device used for work purposes cannot allow access purely based on trust.
Instead, all devices must rely on rigorous verification methods. By adopting a Zero Trust policy, you can further restrict access to devices managed by your remote workforce.
If you are using Zero Trust, you should include its principles in your training sessions.
Get RWMS Certification
A Remote Work Made Simple Certification is only achieved after a comprehensive assessment. This involves a detailed review of your entire remote working setup.
To earn this certification, our experts must review your current remote work solution within a 10 zone assessment. The advice we provide can then be used to keep your business more secure and operating optimally in the future.
We’ll focus on areas like cloud storage and shared drive access. We’ll also discuss your password protection and many more remote working security concerns.
In addition to security, an RWMS Certification can help you improve your remote business’s productivity. This should then, in turn, help improve the bottom line of your business in the future.
Where Can I Find Out More About Remote Security and RWMS Certification?
You should now know some of the key tips for keeping your remote workforce secure. If you are concerned about the security of your current setup, the best thing to do is contact our team directly.
We’ll be able to discuss solutions with you in more detail. If you’re interested, we can also book you an assessment to obtain RWMS Certification.
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