Authored by: Darcell Toliver
As work from home arrangements have become more widespread due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing awareness of security risks is essential.
Here are a few ways you can protect your personal and organizational data according to Dani Vanderzanden and Rebecca Bennett’s article for Law.com and Katherine Sloan of Cybint.
Data Encryption to VPN
One of the primary methods of protecting data is encryption, preventing unauthorized access to the network, thus protecting intellectual property.
In fact, within many sectors, regulations require encryption standards. Encrypting data is important to safeguard customers' valuable information and adhere to regulatory compliance measures.
Employee Training
Another foundational element of a robust cybersecurity plan is investing in employee education and implementing a formal cybersecurity training program. According to Sloan, "Human error accounts for 95% successful cyber-attacks." It is vital to maintain awareness by conducting training periodically to identify, report, and address threats.
Prevent external device attachment
External devices such as USBs, hard drives, mobile phones, and memory cards pose a risk to your organization's data. Such devices can extract intellectual property from your organization or introduce malware onto company computers and infiltrate the organization's network.
Physically Secure Devices Containing Company Data
Additionally, one of the best ways to manage privacy is to secure sensitive information or access devices containing sensitive data physically.
According to Vanderzanden and Bennett, "Many information security incidents occur when a device is stolen or misplaced, and protecting the physical security of devices that may store information or perform computing functions is essential."
Formalize Work From Home Agreements and Prepare an incident response plan
"Employers may find it useful to establish written protocols for remote work arrangements that address information security, privacy, and other work restrictions,” states Vanderzanden and Bennett, “In addition, employers can ensure that these policies require immediate disclosure of any potential information security compromise. Such written policies must protect the employer's ability to remove employer data from personal devices."
Listed below are a few additional tips to minimize security risks:
- Avoid shared or public wi-fi
- Use strong passwords
- Maintain conversation confidentiality
- Avoid cloud-sharing applications
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For more helpful cybersecurity tips, click here to read Dani Vanderzanden and Rebecca Bennett’s article for Law.com, and click here to read Katherine Sloan’s for Cybint.
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