8 Steps to a Secure Remote Work Environment
As we have witnessed a dynamic shift toward remote work, ensuring the security and confidentiality of an organization's data and information is crucial. As the boundaries of the traditional office blur and employees operate from home or various remote locations, the need to safeguard sensitive data remains paramount. To achieve this, organizations must establish a clear framework for remote security policies that outline the necessary security measures and best practices that employees must adhere to. These policies act as a shield, guarding against potential threats to the integrity and privacy of the data upon which businesses depend.
At Element security is our top priority, so this article is designed to walk you through eight essential steps, presented in no particular order, to create a secure workspace for remote employees. These steps encompass a broad spectrum of practices and considerations, all aimed at fortifying your organization's remote security posture. By diligently following these guidelines, you can strengthen your defenses and ensure that your data remains confidential and your operations secure, regardless of where your employees are working.
Private Workspace: Employees should be responsible for maintaining a secure and private remote work environment which includes:
Avoid shared or public Wi-Fi networks for work-related tasks.
Ensure that family members or other individuals do not have access to company devices or data.
Company-Issued Devices: Employees must only use company-issued devices for organization-related work and keep them updated with the latest security patches and antivirus software.
Authentication: Employees must adhere to strong password policies and enable multi-factor authentication. They should only access company systems and data with their authorized credentials.
Data Handling: Keep data secure by following these items:
Sensitive data should not be printed at home without prior authorization.
Employees should not download company data onto personal devices.
Data should be transmitted securely using VPNs or other approved encryption methods.
Data backup should be performed regularly as instructed by your IT department.
Reporting Security Incidents: All employees must immediately report any security incidents, including lost or stolen devices, suspicious activity, or unauthorized access to the IT department and their immediate supervisor.
Software and Application Usage:
Only authorized and approved software and applications should be installed on company devices.
Employees should not disable or bypass security features on company devices.
Devices should be rebooted frequently to ensure updates are applied.
Phishing and Social Engineering: Employees should exercise caution and not click on suspicious links, download attachments from unknown sources, or share sensitive information over email or other communication channels without verifying the sender's identity.
Regular Training and Awareness: Employees should undergo regular security training and awareness programs to stay up-to-date on security best practices.
Implementing a policy with the above recommendations can significantly enhance the security of remote workers within your organization. It is vitally important that you take time to create, review, and reinforce the policy with your employees to maintain a secure work environment.
Remote Work Security Videos
Craig Sixta, CISSP and Chief Technology Officer, created a series of short videos to help your employees create a secure working environment. Please view the series on our resource page.
