Has your living area suddenly turned into your conference room? COVID-19 has brought a lot of unprecedented changes to our daily lives, including our workspaces.
Many nonessential workers are now dialing in from home for at least part of the week to help stop the spread. While this has helped improve workplace safety, the shift to remote work does come with its own set of unique challenges.
For instance, company data and sensitive information that used to stay within company walls has now expanded into employees’ homes. Loved ones may listen in or stumble across documents they otherwise wouldn’t have access to — or worse, suspicious agents may have unsecured WiFi connections.
The FBI has seen a 300% increase in cybersecurity attacks since the start of COVID-19, showing that malicious persons are more than happy to take advantage of this lack of security. Here are some tips to keep you and your company’s data safe:
- Only use company issued devices and don’t let family members or loved ones use work computers or phones.
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi, request a hotspot if you have to work outside your home instead.
- Change your password regularly — experts recommend switching it up at least every 90 days.
- Keep software updated so you have access to the latest security updates.
- Set boundaries for meetings so people know when sensitive data will be discussed, that way they can take the conference call in private.
For even more tips for staying secure online and common cyberattacks to look out for, check out this infographic from The Zebra below.
