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Working from home is a great way to save time on commuting and also keep your expenses down. However, it can be easy to forget that you are still an employee of the company that pays for your home office. Not only do you need to protect yourself when working from home, but you also have to take care of the information entrusted to you by your employer. Here are four ways that will help keep company data secure while working from home.
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1) Keep all physical documents in a locked cabinet or drawer with limited access.
Documents carry a lot of information, and they can be stolen or lost. Make sure you keep all company documents in a locked cabinet with limited access to only your supervisor(s) if possible. If not, make sure that these cabinets are secured with locks and keys, so it is difficult for outsiders to get their hands on them. This will also ensure your children can’t get to them.
Don’t leave company documents lying around the house either, such as your laptop or tablet with files on it when you aren’t using it. Theft of electronic devices has been on the rise, and thieves will steal anything that is not bolted down! By So doing, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing that your information is secure.
2) Install security software on all devices used for work.
Having security software on all devices used for work is one of the best ways to secure company data. Make sure you use anti-virus, firewall, and malware programs that are updated regularly with the latest virus definitions; this will prevent hackers from entering your computer through an unsecured website or email attachment.
You should also consider using a free service like Dropbox, where files can be transferred safely without sending emails containing sensitive information. By logging into the Dropbox website directly rather than clicking links in emails, you will protect your machine from viruses and other dangers.
Please note: When working remotely, it’s even more important than usual to update your operating system (OS) as soon as there are updates available, including applications such as Adobe Reader, so they don’t have potential vulnerabilities which hackers may exploit.
3) Use strong passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
If you use the same password for your work and personal accounts, you are increasing the risk of compromising your information. Using strong passwords (and different ones) on every account, such as email, social media sites, among others, makes it much more difficult for hackers to break in. This means creating a random string of characters known only by yourself – not writing down or sharing this information anywhere! Don’t forget: If someone else knows your password, they can access all of these accounts.
4) Set up two-factor authentication for online accounts.
Two-factor authentication attaches an additional layer of security on top of basic security features like a password. It requires something physical at the login screen in addition to your password, the most common being a code that is sent via text message or email. This means even if someone knows your password, they still can’t access your account unless they have physical possession of this device at the same time (which should be very difficult).
Many online services offer two-factor authentication, including Gmail and Facebook; however, you can also use apps like Google Authenticator, which generate codes for both these sites and others such as Dropbox.
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