The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many of us are conducting business as remotely working from home has become the new normal, at least temporarily. With remote work comes various security challenges which many companies and individuals are trying to figure out how to deal with. 

Hackers are already taking advantage of the coronavirus as shown by the recent healthcare agency breaches. It’s more important than ever, for your employees to be prepared to prevent any potential incidents.

Here are some cybersecurity best practices for your remote workers during the COVID pandemic.

• Use a VPN (a Virtual Private Network)

A VPN not only protects your privacy, but it can also protect your traffic from being compromised by a hacker. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic to ensure your company’s data is kept safe. 

• Use Good Password Management

Password management is a key element in cybersecurity and it’s often overlooked. All it takes is one compromised password and a hacker can take over your accounts and gain access to your corporate network. When working from home, employees should use password managers to generate strong, unique passwords. This is the time to reset your passwords and start using management best practices.

• Use Two-Factor Authentication

Having a strong password is a good start. Two-factor authorization (2FA) adds a second layer of protection and validates your employees’ ID more efficiently. The extra step could be a unique code sent via text or email. While 2FA is not hacker-proof, it does add an additional layer of security.

• Keep Anti-Virus Software Up-To-Date

Windows does have decent built-in protection with Microsoft Defender, but it’s not enough. Remote workers should install strong anti-virus software and perform regular scans to keep their system malware-free.

• Keep Software Updated

While some find updates an annoying cause of downtime, they’re crucial and should be maintained and managed especially when working from home. If you’re connecting to your employer’s network, and you’re not protected, you are risking your company’s network security and confidential information.

As we all adjust to the reality of working from home, it’s important to be aware of the risks. Remote work comes with its own set of security challenges. Don’t become the weak link in your organization’s cybersecurity efforts. Adopt these cybersecurity best practices to keep your computer and company network safe during this unprecedented time.