Remote work has become the new normal and the shift to ‘work from home’ or ‘work from anywhere’ has taken hold. While this brings about many advantages such as cutting down on commute, saving on costs, etc. it also comes with a whole other world of cybersecurity risks that are more prevalent now more than ever. Here are the top 5 security risks of working remotely and what you can do about them.

1. Accessing Private Information Through Unsecure Wi-Fi Networks

Your team members may be using unprotected public Wi-Fi to access their company accounts or connect to their home wireless network.

This makes it simple for hostile individuals nearby to monitor their connection and gather sensitive data. Hackers may intercept and steal data provided in plain text form that is not encrypted.

Make it a rule that team members shouldn’t connect to unidentified Wi-Fi networks unless they are doing so using a VPN. According to a recent survey, the use of VPNs has surged by 165%.

2. Neglecting Common Physical Security Procedures in Public

Even if cybersecurity is a main priority, physical security should still be maintained in order to protect critical data.

Some employees might work while talking loudly on the phone, display their laptop screen for everyone to see in a café, or leave their equipment unattended.

Even the most fundamental security precautions should be taught to employees, even if they appear obvious at first. A polite reminder to them to keep the information about your company private will always be beneficial.

3. Weak Password Use

Even if a company employs firewalls, VPNs, and other cybersecurity tools to protect your network, human error still occurs when staff members attempt to protect their accounts with insecure passwords.

61% of people refuse to update their passwords because they believe they will forget them. Cybercriminals will try to crack account passwords in order to access private company data since they are aware that human error is simpler to exploit than trying to get past a sophisticated security solution.

Another common risky practice used by fraudsters is using repeat passwords. Once they discover the password to one account, they will try to use it to log into other accounts. Employees who reuse passwords, especially across personal and professional accounts, are more likely to fall victim to cyberattacks.

4. Sharing Unencrypted Files

Organizations may consider encrypting data stored on their network, but they might not think to encrypt data being transferred from one location to another.

Your organization cannot afford to let this information remain vulnerable because your employees communicate so much sensitive information on a daily basis, including client account information, files, and more.

If confidential firm information is intercepted, it may result in theft, ransomware cyberattacks, identity fraud, and more.

Read more on The Most Common Types of Cyberattacks and How to Prevent Them.

5. Email Fraud

Your remote workers may end up being the biggest security risk to your network. Employees may inadvertently engage in poor cybersecurity practices, providing access to your network and the confidential data of your business.

See 10 Case Studies That Prove That IT Security is No Joke.

Employees may become puzzled about how to continue working securely when business activities abruptly or temporarily shift to remote work. Without personal interaction with certain colleagues, it might be difficult to discern the legitimacy of an email from a distant coworker.

Phishing tactics provide the biggest cyber hazard to remote workers. In phishing schemes, a person or organization pretends to be a reliable source, typically via email, in order to trick a victim into providing private login credentials or privileged information. This information can then be used to access accounts, steal additional confidential information, commit identity fraud, and other crimes.

Phishing emails are now so sophisticated, it is getting harder for employees to recognize them, especially when they get past email filters and end up in the primary inbox of an employee.

Combat Security Risks with ZenAdmin

Security is vitally essential for every organization in this digital age. ZenAdmin is dedicated to protecting your data from the general public, the dark web, and even members of our own staff. 

With ZenAdmin’s integrated and unified IT security for your devices, applications, and networks, you can shield your team from threats like cyberattacks and other threats. Book a free demo session today!