As employees continue working from home to support efforts in slowing down the spread of the Coronavirus, there are several things we need to consider regarding cyber security. Remote employees often have less advantageous environments to work in, causing higher risks for attack. To help promote the best and most secure experience working from home, let’s dive into some easy ways to build up a stronger digital surrounding.  

 The first and most important security measure is to make sure that all of your accounts have strong passwords. Secure passwords with multiple character types help to better protect your online accounts as well as ensure stolen electronics don’t get broken into easily.  

Here are some examples of poor and more secure passwords:  

  

The second part of maximizing security is to make sure that work stays on work computers as much as possible. Working through a secure VPN helps ensure that employees are working in the same secure environment. Firewalls, virus monitoring software, and streamlined software can all be managed at a much higher level through a VPN source.  

 Next, it’s important to avoid opening or clicking on spam-related emails or links. If there are random promotional emails in your inbox that are not related to your business or anything you have subscribed to receive, you are better off not opening them. They can bring harmful viruses or email bots into your work environment. It’s also best to avoid clicking on pop-ups or side bar links when visiting websites. While most website ads generally have small risks and are usually paid ads from businesses, now is a time when there is a heightened population of people working from home and hackers tend to be more active.   

 If at anytime you feel that you have been hacked or the integrity of your technology has been compromised, it’s important to contact your IT department immediately.   

 Finally, make sure that you are connecting to a secure WIFI. During the Coronavirus pandemic, this shouldn’t be as big of a risk due to public areas not being as accessible, but making sure you have an up-to-date router and extra security measures implemented at your home is also very helpful.  

 Just because you are in the safety of your home, doesn’t mean that you aren’t at risk of a cyber attack. Ensure you take the appropriate measures when working from home and when in doubt, connect with your IT department. They are the professionals trained to support all types of work environments.