3 Easy Steps to Avoid Common Risks of Remote Work
Technology, as we know, has revolutionized the way we work on a day to day basis. It is now possible to work from home, a remote office, or another location all together and suffer little to no consequence on productivity. Remote collaboration through technology has allowed the business world to expand by providing flexibility to workers and expanding the possibilities of it’s very own workforce.
Employers are well aware that the right person for the right job can make a world of difference, and remote work allows more precision in choosing the right candidate. Remote work allows businesses to hire the most qualified people regardless of location while simultaneously decreasing costs to expand into new regions unnecessarily. Remote work can also be useful for employers with field workers, or workers who travel often. This function is especially important for small businesses to run better in a competitive market.
Running better from anywhere presents it’s own set of challenges, information security and breaching being one of the highest. Making the proper precautions is crucial for lessening the risk of disruptive and potentially expensive information hacks when conducting remote work. Keeping your business’ information safe as well as accessible to maintain productivity can be done through these three different steps:
Training and awareness
The security of your company’s data is only as strong as tools given to your employees. Tools that can keep your data safe include firewalls and IT management. Though, the real concern is with employees awareness of safe practices. Properly training your employees on safe practices when using their technology can lessen the soft spots in your companies security.
Security policy training is the beginning step in order to protect your company’s information. Training employees properly and thoroughly will allow them to understand the importance of adhering to the security policies your company has set in place.
Assuming that your employees know and understand security issues without formally being covered by training is a mistake many companies make. Studies show that nearly 1 in 5 workers don’t password protect their business devices, and 95% of people use an unsecured wifi access at least once a week for work. Security training is necessary for your employees and these concepts should be reinforced through training.
Encryption
Taking data directly from the source, such as a worker’s device, is one of the easiest ways for hackers to take data. Physical Theft or loss accounts for about 15 percent of all data breaches. These data breaches can be through and employee’s phone, laptop or any other work device. If these devices are not protected properly, stealing information is just a click or tap away for anyone who can get their hands on your devices.
Encryption of desktops, laptops, company issued smartphones, and tablet devices can enhance the security of your company’s data. If the device is lost or stolen, the information stored on that device would be rendered useless for the Encrypting data on these devices takes some of the stress off the shoulders of the individual employee by creating an extra defense against data theft or loss.
Email can also be encrypted. Email encryption adds another element of protection for messages sent that may contain sensitive information. This kind of service is particularly important in industries like healthcare, where there are many regulations in order to be in line with compliance. Dually, making sure that your company is doing the best it can to make sure the client’s information is protected at all times is a concern for us all.
Using the right tools
Remote employees typically use different types of storage and data transfer options, communication types, and collaborative work programs in order to work. Companies use these technologies to make remote work both easy to use and in order to increase productivity. Picking the right program to run your remote work operations is important, because if your business’ information is not managed properly, that will create holes in your security.
A common issue found with sharing data is that many employees are using improper file sync/share services that are meant for consumers.These services and tools are not unsecure by nature, though the use of these methods may not provide the same type of protection that you business needs. Providing a file sharing service for employees that is simple, useful, and readily available for any company is paramount in order to make sure that your company has the protection it needs.
A method that works well is integrating a file sync/share system that is company wide. This type of solution will provide your company with one unified system designed to keep the documents safe and make data sharing within your company’s walls easy without compromise.
When running your business through the use of remote work, safety is key. Whether you’re using remote work to hire the most qualified people, help your employees working in the field, or have employees who travel often, strategies to provide safety for your electronically shared information can allow your company to risk less of your business’ safety and gain more efficiency.
And that’s where we can help. Learn more at www.stratixsystems.com or call us toll-free 1-800-444-2943
About Stratix Systems
With offices in Reading, Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia and Central and Northern New Jersey, Stratix Systems is one of the region’s leading technology solutions partners —with the people, resources and experience to deliver the IT, content/document management and imaging support you need: where, when and how you need it. In fact, very few providers in the region can match the vast array of total business solutions and responsive service available from Stratix Systems. It’s no wonder why we are the partner-of-choice for over 4,500 organizations throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Have a question? Get an answer. Our experienced systems experts would be happy to answer your questions, help you explore your options and develop a customized plan for you. Learn more at www.stratixsystems.com or call us toll-free 1-800-444-2943.