Working remotely has become the new normal for many offices since the pandemic — and for some, it’s working so well that it may be a permanent change. But while working remotely can save your company costs on overhead and gives your employees more flexibility, you could end up losing thousands of dollars if you haven’t taken steps to ensure that your data is protected on the devices your employees are using. Here’s how to ensure your data remains safe and protected.

1. Install antivirus and anti-malware on all devices that your employees will be using. Perform regular maintenance checkups to confirm that devices remain free of both.

2. Have employees use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when logging in to any company device. A VPN is the best way to protect your data, even if employees are logging in to public Wi-Fi at their corner Starbucks.

3. Instruct all employees to never connect to public or unsecured Wi-Fi unless they first login to the VPN. Unsecured Wi-Fi is a common and easy way for someone to gain access to your company’s data.

4. Limit access to company information. Allow your employees access only to what they need to do their jobs.

5. No more using “password” as a password! Require employees to use strong, unique passwords when logging in to any company device. The password for each device should be different.

6. Consider requiring multi-factor authentication — your employee will login with a username and password, then answer a security question or use a PIN for a second layer of protection. Yes, it’s a pain in the neck, but that bit of extra time could save you the headache of someone stealing company information.

7. Conduct employee training to teach everyone how to protect their company devices, how to use them, and where to store them when not in use. Make an investment in a management platform that will allow you to remotely wipe the data from any device that goes missing.

 

Remember, your brick and mortar location still needs protection, even if employees are working remotely. A burglar could use the opportunity of fewer or no employees on site as the perfect opportunity to break in. And a fully staffed office means you have both materials and people to protect! Southern Alarm can give you a free assessment of your office property and recommend the best protection plan for your company. We use have over 80 years of experience and use a local call center, so you'll be in the best of hands!