The top three ways to be cyber-safe when working outside the office

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our daily lives and perhaps none more than how we work. Prior to the pandemic, working from home was often considered a perk, or used by companies to free up real estate from employees who were often not in the office anyway, such as salespeople.

Post-pandemic, many companies have found that their employees are happier and more productive working either from home entirely, or in a hybrid model including access to both a home office and a corporate office. However each company decides to model their workplace, it is clear that for the majority of us, working remotely is here to stay¹.

When you are not working in the office, keep the following three tips in mind to stay cyber safe wherever you are:

Take your company (policies) with you wherever you work

Whether you are working in the office, at home or in your neighbourhood coffee shop, it is mandatory that you always follow all company policies and procedures regarding cyber security. If you are unsure about these policies, review your company’s cyber security protcols. And, if you are working remotely using your personal devices, rather than company-issued ones, make sure they have the latest encryption and security protocols required by your company.

Resist the click

You may be busy…distracted…or just curious, but clicking on an unexpected link, even from someone you know, can lead to serious consequences.

One of the most common ways cybercriminals access your emails and your system is through links that offer prizes or ask you to provide personal information. If you receive something unexpected, before responding or clicking on any attachments, check with the sender to ensure it is legitimate, and, if you are not familiar with the sender, it is best to delete it, then escalate suspicious activity to management, HR, or your compliance partners.

Always use a VPN

Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when you work remotely helps provide a safe pathway for your information travel across that is virtually invisible to hackers. Working on a VPN that has been approved by your company will provide enhanced security without affecting your ability to work productively.

Working from anywhere is not going anywhere! So always ensure that your laptop, phone, and any other devices used for work meet your company’s cyber security requirements and have a VPN as well as the most updated encryption and virus detection software installed.

References:

According to “The Future of Work: Productive Anywhere,” Accenture, 2021, 60% of employees have been working in a hybrid model over the past two years, and 83% identify hybrid work as being optimal in the future.

Sources:

Disclaimers:

This material is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, nor is it a substitute for advice from a qualified professional.
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Disclaimer

This article is intended for general information purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, nor is it a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. The article may contain information obtained from third-party sources. While reasonable efforts have been made at the time of publication to ensure that the contents of this article have been derived from reliable and accurate sources, including third party sources, ivari provides the information “as is” and ivari does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein.

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