You’ve secured the talent, you’re set up to build and grow with your remote team, but what’s the most important part of ensuring your company’s security? In a physical office setting, you’d be concerned about device access, access to your premises, and parking space. In your remote team? It’s your cybersecurity measures.
Your remote team
Now that you’re committed to picking your team from the global talent pool, you understand the benefits for your business, and your team too. With the flexibility that remote environments offer, you can build diverse teams, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table. Simultaneously, your team is set up to be happier, and more productive, and savour the experience of a flexible working environment. It’s mission-critical to secure your remote environment, to ensure everyone stays safe, and your business does too.
Cybersecurity risks
While the benefits of remote work are substantial, you cannot ignore the cybersecurity risks associated with it. Remote workers often operate outside the traditional security perimeter of an organisation, using personal devices and home networks that may not be as secure as corporate infrastructure. There are several significant risks you need to consider and protect your team and business against:
- Data breaches: Data breaches are a major concern in remote environments. A nefarious person gaining unauthorised access to your company information can devastate your business. Without proper security measures in place, cybercriminals can exploit vulnerabilities in home networks, personal devices, or unsecured public Wi-Fi connections to gain access to company data.
- Phishing attacks and social engineering: Phishing attacks and social engineering are manipulative tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit human psychology and trick people into divulging sensitive information or taking harmful actions. The deceptive techniques often involve impersonating trusted entities through various communication channels, like emails, phone calls, or text messages, to gain the victim’s confidence. While phishing typically focuses on luring victims to click malicious links or provide credentials through fraudulent websites, social engineering uses a broader range of psychological manipulation methods to exploit typically human vulnerabilities. Both tactics rely heavily on creating a false sense of urgency, authority, or familiarity to bypass security measures and compromise personal or organisational data. Your remote team may be more susceptible to these threats, especially when working in isolation and without the immediate support of an IT security team.
Your cybersecurity mindset
That’s why your cybersecurity framework must be effective, proactive, and collaborative. It cannot start from behind your remote team’s screens. Your cybersecurity framework begins with establishing the right mindset and approach throughout your team. A risk-aware mindset means that everyone thinks twice before acting while knowing they are fully supported by you as their leader.
Your technical cybersecurity framework
Moving on to the technical setup that will secure your business, these are essential tools for ensuring your team stays safe:
- Your authentication measures: Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a key component of remote work security. MFA requires your team members to provide multiple forms of identification before accessing company resources. When you implement MFA as standard practice, you significantly reduce your business’ risk of unauthorised access, even if passwords are compromised. Encourage your remote team members to use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and consider implementing a password manager to facilitate this practice.
- Data access controls: Not everyone needs access to everything. As you build your remote team infrastructure, set up a level of security and access controls. When you base these on the principle of least privilege, you ensure that each member of your team only has access to the resources and data they need for their specific roles.
- Your network connections: While working from their local coffee shop is right up the remote worker’s alley, it’s not a secure way to operate. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt data traffic between your remote workers and your business networks. Through using a VPN, your team can securely access corporate resources even when connected to potentially unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. Make using VPNs an imperative, and ensure each member of your team is well trained in how to set them up and use them effectively.
- Your endpoint security: Your remote team members will use various devices to access your business information, including their laptops, cellphones, tablets, or desktop computers. That’s why your endpoint security is critical to implement and maintain. Implement comprehensive antivirus and anti-malware solutions on all devices used for work purposes, including personal computers and mobile devices. Make sure every member of your team regularly updates their security tools to ensure protection against the latest threats.
- Software updates: Outdated software is a key vulnerability. It is critically important for your team to keep their software, antivirus, and operating systems up to date, all the time. To make life simpler, make it an organisational device rule that everyone should enable automatic updates on all of their devices. This will help you to ensure that everyone’s devices, and your business information, stays secured.
- Data encryption programmes: Applying a layer of data encryption to your business’ communication channels and wherever information is transmitted and stored is also important. Use full-disk encryption on all devices used for work purposes to prevent unauthorised access in case a device is lost or stolen. If you’re using cloud-based applications and storage solutions, deploy strong encryption protocols to keep your business’ data fully secured.
Cybersecurity training
As part of your remote team onboarding processes, include comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training. But, don’t stop there. Make sure to schedule regular training programmes throughout the business year, to keep everyone operating from their risk-aware mindset. This type of training session also gives you a good platform, where your team can discuss any concerns, raise questions, and talk about new threats. It’s also the perfect way to ensure your team members feel confident and comfortable to report any security concerns.
Securing your remote team doesn’t end once you’ve signed contracts. Securing your business operations from a cybersecurity perspective is just as important too. At Prominence Global, we understand the importance of maintaining a secure digital environment while your business benefits from the power of a global workforce. With Prominence Global’s Remote Team Connect service, you can tap into a world of talent and reshape your business towards growing, global success.
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