By Zachary Amos
With so many employees working from home, businesses today are experiencing heightened cybersecurity risks. Because remote workers often operate from personal computers, hackers can easily exploit vulnerabilities. This is why having a cybersecurity policy for teleworking is essential, as it builds a safer digital workspace for distant teams.
The Cybersecurity Risks of Remote Work
Remote work offers room for flexibility and convenience for employees. About a third (35%) of U.S. staff work full-time from home. However, employers have encountered new cybersecurity challenges when many people perform their job duties remotely.
One survey found that 23% of respondents had experienced a rise in cybersecurity incidents since transitioning to remote work. This increase is largely due to employees working on personal devices, connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, or falling victim to phishing attempts.
In an office, the environment is under greater control because managers or IT teams can track the source of a cybersecurity incident. Remote work setups, on the other hand, can vary widely as employees may be doing the following:
- Using outdated software
- Sharing sensitive information over unsecured platforms
- Failing to update passwords regularly
These scenarios are the most common cybersecurity weak points that create an opening for hackers to exploit. However, knowing the risks is the first step in creating an effective cybersecurity policy. By listing the vulnerabilities in teleworking, company owners can take measures to safeguard their teams and data.
How to Create a Cybersecurity Policy for Remote Workers
1. Assess Your Current Cybersecurity Landscape
Before creating a cybersecurity policy for your remote workforce, it’s essential to understand your current security posture. Use the following steps for a thorough assessment:
• Start with a security audit: Auditing your security points will help you identify weak spots in your current setup. Review your team’s software and tools, assess how employees access corporate data, and find past security incidents that could cause recurring issues.
• Evaluate your tools and processes: Assess whether your existing tools are adequate for a remote work environment. Are people using secure file-sharing platforms? Do you have encryption protocols for sensitive data? Understanding the strengths and limitations of each tool determines where you need updates or new solutions.
• Understand your team’s tech capabilities: Remote teams often vary in their technical knowledge and access to secure devices. Some may rely on personal laptops or outdated equipment, which can introduce risks. Take stock of the devices they use, and consider providing brand-approved equipment if feasible.
2. Set Clear Guidelines for Secure Remote Practices
Creating clear and actionable guidelines ensures your remote staff can work securely. However, balancing policies is equally important, as too restrictive or overly complex ones can backfire.
A Harvard Business Review study found 67% of remote workers admitted to failing to adhere to cybersecurity policies at least once, with an average failure rate of one in every 20 tasks. Interestingly, one of the top reasons cited for noncompliance was the need to complete tasks more efficiently. Other factors included family obligations conflicting with work. Yet, the ultimate surprise was feeling stressed by policy demands.
The key to setting guidelines is to make them simple enough to follow consistently while robust enough to protect sensitive data. For example, instead of requiring overly complicated password changes every few weeks, encourage the use of password managers. This streamlines security while reducing stress.
When designing policies, consider workers’ daily tasks and challenges. If a policy creates unnecessary barriers to productivity, people are more likely to bypass it. Offer flexible solutions, such as allowing secure mobile access for balancing work and family commitments. Explain the value of specific protocols and how these practices protect the enterprise and the individual.
3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication and Strong Password Policies
A simple, effective way to strengthen a remote team’s cybersecurity is to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong password policies. These measures add critical layers of protection, preventing unauthorized access even if a hacker compromises a password.
MFA requires users to verify their identity through multiple methods, such as a password and a temporary code sent to their phone or email. This approach reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access, as cybercriminals need more than a password to infiltrate the system.
However, strong passwords are still a major component of best cybersecurity practices. Guidelines to incorporate into a password policy should include:
- Lengthy, hard-to-guess passwords: Passwords should be at least 12 characters long, and include a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid reuse: Prohibit people from reusing passwords across platforms to minimize the risk of widespread breaches.
- Use encrypted password management systems: Encourage the use of password management tools that securely generate and store login information.
In addition to creating strong passwords, your employees should change them every six months. This time between changing passwords is sufficient to keep sensitive data safe while reducing frustration during changes. Be sure to combine this practice with MFA to keep sensitive information out of the hands of cybercriminals.
4. Provide Secure Access to Company Resources
Implementing solutions that protect sensitive data while enabling seamless collaboration with a teleworking team is critical. For instance, a virtual private network (VPN) can effectively encrypt data transmitted between the team and enterprise servers.
VPNs create a secure tunnel for internet traffic, preventing hackers from intercepting sensitive details. All remote workers should use a company-approved VPN when accessing corporate resources, especially on public or home Wi-Fi.
Another approach is to leverage zero trust, which operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Instead of granting broad entry, a zero trust network access authenticates and authorizes each user for every resource they access. This minimizes the risk of insider threats and limits exposure during a breach.
5. Develop an Incident Response Plan
Even with the best measures in place, any system can be at risk of a breach or cyber incident. That’s why having an incident response plan (IRP) is crucial for minimizing the severity of security events and recovering swiftly.
Phishing attacks, ransomware, and data breaches can disrupt operations and cost an average of $46,000 per financially motivated incident. With a clear plan, teams can save time and thousands of dollars by knowing how to respond. IRPs ensure everyone understands their role and the steps to take when an incident occurs, reducing downtime and mitigating risks.
Brands can create a comprehensive IRP by including the following key components:
• Define roles and responsibilities: Assign clear roles for incident management, such as who will investigate, communicate with stakeholders, and oversee recovery efforts.
• Establish reporting protocols: Set up a simple, accessible process for reporting incidents. This can include a dedicated email address, secure messaging platform or phone line for employees to notify IT security teams.
• Document response procedures: Outline specific steps to take during common cybersecurity incidents, such as isolating infected devices or notifying affected parties and regulatory authorities.
• Include a communication strategy: Develop a plan for how managers should communicate with employees, customers, and stakeholders during and after an incident. Transparency maintains trust and guarantees everyone knows how to resolve the issues.
More from AllBusiness:
Enhance Cybersecurity for a Remote Workforce
Given the frequency and impact of breaches, creating a cybersecurity policy for a remote workforce is essential. With clear guidelines, a teleworking team can operate confidently and securely from anywhere.
About the Author
Zac Amos is the Features Editor at ReHack, where he covers cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and HR tech. His insights have been featured on VentureBeat, TalentCulture, and DZone. For more of his work, follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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