As the result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, remote working has become an increasingly popular way to work. There are many benefits to working remotely, such as reduced overheads, as well as increased flexibility and productivity. However, there are also several security risks that come with remote working.

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Top Security Risks of Remote Working

Here are some of the top security risks of working remotely:

1. Unsecured Wi-Fi Networks

One of the biggest security risks of working remotely is badly secured Wi-Fi networks. When you connect to a poorly secured Wi-Fi network, all of your data is vulnerable to interception. This means that someone could easily steal your passwords, banking information, and other sensitive data.

To stay safe on Wi-Fi, only connect to networks that are password-protected. Additionally, avoid doing any sensitive tasks, like online banking or shopping, on public Wi-Fi. If you need to do these types of tasks, make sure you have a VPN installed on your device. VPNs encrypt all of the data that is sent through them, making it impossible for someone to intercept your information.

2. Phishing Scams

Phishing scams are one of the most common types of cyber attacks. These scams usually involve an email or website that looks legitimate but is actually a trap set by hackers. The goal of these scams is to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as your passwords or banking information.

To avoid falling for a phishing scam, be very careful about the emails and websites you click on. If an email or website looks suspicious, do not click on any links or enter any information. Additionally, you should never respond to emails that ask for your personal information. Legitimate companies will never request this information via email.

It is also important to implement training for both existing and new hires to your business, to ensure that everyone is aware of the dangers of these emails. By taking these measures, businesses can protect themselves from the costly damage that can be caused by phishing attacks.

3. Malware

Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers. Once your computer is infected with malware, hackers can gain access to your sensitive data, such as your passwords and banking information. They can also use your computer to launch attacks on other computers.

There are a few different ways that you can get malware on your computer. One way is by downloading infected files from the internet. This is why it’s important to only download files from trusted websites. Another way is by clicking on malicious links in emails or on websites. This is why it’s important to be careful about the emails and websites you click on.

4. Weak Passwords

Another security risk of working remotely is using weak passwords. If your passwords are weak, they can be easily guessed by hackers. Once they have access to your accounts, they can steal your sensitive data or use your accounts to launch attacks on other computers.

To create strong passwords, use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using common words or phrases, as these can be easily guessed by hackers. Additionally, you should never use the same password for more than one account. If one of your accounts is compromised, hackers will have access to all of your other accounts.

5. GDPR and remote working

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a set of regulations that member states of the European Union and the UK have put in place in order to protect the privacy of personal data. The regulation applies to any company that processes or intends to process the data of Eu or UK individuals, regardless of whether those individuals are citizens or residents. This means that any company that processes the personal data of any EU or UK citizen must comply with GDPR.

In order to comply with GDPR, companies must put in place a robust remote work policy that outlines the corporate access control policy. This policy should outline which employees have access to corporate servers, what data they can use, and how they can use it as part of their daily tasks. By putting such a policy in place, companies can reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure that their data is safe.

6. Social Engineering

Social engineering is a type of attack that relies on human interaction to gain access to sensitive data. These attacks usually involve hackers tricking people into giving them their passwords or other sensitive information often by the use of phone calls or emails offering special opportunities, privileges or jobs.

To protect yourself from social engineering attacks, never give out your passwords or other sensitive information to anyone. Legitimate companies will never request this information via email or over the phone. Additionally, be wary of emails or websites that try to trick you into clicking on links or downloading files. These could be malware scams that will infect your computer with malware.

7. Outdated Software

Another security risk of working remotely is using outdated software. If your software is out of date, it may have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. This is why it’s important to always keep your software up to date.

To do this, you should enable automatic updates for your operating system and all of the applications you use. This way, you’ll always have the latest security patches installed.

8. Poor Physical Security

Physical security is just as important as digital security. If someone has physical access to your computer, they can easily steal your data or plant malware on your device.

To improve physical security, you should keep your computer in a safe place when you’re not using it and always log off or lock the screen if you are leaving it unattended for a short while . Additionally, you should encrypt your data to make it unreadable if your computer is stolen.

9. Unencrypted File Sharing

Some file-sharing services do not encrypt files as they are shared, which can lead to the theft of sensitive data. Make sure that any file-sharing service you use has built-in security features and that files are encrypted as they are shared.

To improve encryption, use a file-sharing service that uses SSL/TLS encryption. This will prevent third parties from intercepting your data as it is shared.

10. Working on Public Wi-Fi

Working on public Wi-Fi can be convenient, but it’s also risky. If you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, anyone on that network can snoop on your traffic and steal your data. As well as this, public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, which means that hackers can easily access your data.

To protect yourself, you should avoid sharing sensitive data on public Wi-Fi networks. If you need to share sensitive data, you should use a VPN. A VPN encrypts your traffic and prevents third parties from snooping on your data.

11. Lack of Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an important security measure that can help protect your accounts from being hacked. Without 2FA all a hacker needs is your username which is often your email address and a password, which they can try to guess and once they have guessed it they are into your account, which will leave their accounts and data vulnerable to attack.

To protect yourself, you should enable 2FA for all of your important accounts. This way, even if someone manages to steal your username and password, they will not be able to access your account without also having your phone to receive a text message code or an authentication app which provides a one time code.

12. Using Personal Devices for Work

There are both risks and benefits to allowing employees to use their personal devices for work. On the one hand, it can lead to increased productivity and flexibility, as employees can access work files and applications from anywhere. On the other hand, it can also create security risks, as sensitive data may be stored on devices that are not subject to the same security protocols as work computers.

In addition, there is also the risk of data breaches if personal devices are lost or stolen. As an employer, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and implement a Policy to define how personal devices can be used with business data and in the workplace.

Best Practices to Avoid Security Risks When Working Remotely

The following are some of the best practices that companies can use to reduce the security risks associated with remote working:

Use a VPN – VPNs encrypt internet traffic and can help to secure data that is being transferred between remote employees and the company network.
Educate employees about security risks – Employees should be educated about the potential risks of working from home, such as phishing scams and malware.
Use strong passwords – Using strong passwords is one of the most basic but important security measures.
Encrypt data – Encrypting data can help to protect it from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.
Use secure file-sharing services – Secure file-sharing services, such as, SharePoint, One-Drive, Dropbox or Box, can help to ensure that files are transferred securely between remote employees and the company network.
Use a secure email service – Email is one of the most common ways that data is transferred between employees and the company network. Services such as ProtonMail or HushMail offer encrypted email services that can help to protect data.
Use two-factor authentication – Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second factor, such as a code sent to a mobile device, in addition to a password.
Implement a BYOD policy – If your company allows employees to use their own devices for work, it’s important to have a BYOD policy in place that outlines the security measures that must be followed.
Keep software up to date – Keeping software up to date can help to patch any security vulnerabilities that may be present.
Use a firewall – Using a firewall can help to block malicious traffic and protect the network from outside threats.
Limit access to sensitive data – Limiting access to sensitive data can help to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing it.
Regularly back up data – Regularly backing up data helps to ensure that it can be recovered in the event of a security incident.
Implement security policies and procedures – Implementing security policies and procedures can help to ensure that employees are following best practices.
Use security tools to monitor activity and block threats – Security tools, such as intrusion detection systems and anti-virus software, can help to block threats and monitor activity.
Perform security audits regularly – Performing security audits on a regular basis can help to identify any potential security risks.
Have an incident response plan in place – Having an incident response plan in place can help to ensure that any security incidents are dealt with quickly and effectively.
Work with a trusted IT partner – Working with a trusted IT partner can help to provide the expertise and resources needed to implement effective security measures.
Review security on a regular basis – Reviewing security on a regular basis is important to ensure that any new risks are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
Use secure communication channels – Secure communication channels, such as encrypted email or chat, can help to protect data from being intercepted by unauthorized individuals.
Destroy data securely – When data is no longer needed, it should be destroyed securely to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
Follow industry-specific security guidelines – Organizations should follow any industry-specific security guidelines that may be applicable to their business.

The above are just some of the best practices that companies can use to reduce the security risks associated with remote working. It is important to note that there is no one size fits all solution and that the best approach may vary depending on the specific needs of the organization.