In participation with the National Cybersecurity Alliance and in celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, CyberPolicy is proud to promote cybersecurity education by providing resources for small business owners to plan for, prevent, and insure against cyber crime.
Here’s an interesting fact: Many cybersecurity breaches are caused by employees.
Yes, you read that correctly. The same employees that enable a business to run are also a primary avenue of risk. Human error, gullibility, and negligence account for a surprisingly high number of cyber attacks on small and medium businesses. This is a fact that many businesses address with in-office staff, but neglect with remote employees.
Telecommuting presents security challenges for employers in virtually every industry. Remote employees have been common in the workforce for many years, albeit in small numbers. But the rapid adoption of telecommuting pushed by the pandemic has outpaced the cybersecurity measures needed to protect this growing class of workers.
Here are four straightforward strategies that you can implement into your business’s remote work policy that will strengthen the security of your organization.
Put device security first - You can’t control which WiFi networks employees use at home or in public. But, you can emphasize the importance of securing the devices that employees are using. Implement protocols requiring employees to keep their operating systems, firewalls, and antivirus software up to date. It may seem obvious to keep everything up to date, but this can be an annoying task that is frequently overlooked.
Keep work data on work computers - Discourage employees from conducting work on personal devices. The likelihood of anyone implementing and maintaining the security measures found in the office on their personal computer is very slim. The use of personal devices, including laptops and tablets, for work purposes can open many security gaps that can put an organization at risk.
Manage smart phones - Smart phones have changed the way many remote employees work, but many companies have not enforced cybersecurity protocols to match. Discourage everyone from using their personal phones for business purposes.
Obtain cyber liability insurance - Lastly, you'll want to invest in cyber policy insurance from a reputable provider. While these suggestions can assist you in keeping your remote workforce safe, there's nothing you can do to eliminate the threat entirely. Nevertheless, cyber insurance can help cover any damages caused by cyber crime targeting your business. For more information about cyber insurance visit us online or give us a call at (800) 590-7292 for a quote and to learn how to protect your business and remote workforce.
