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Cyber Security – Helpful Info and Tips for working from Home

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With so many employees across multiple industries currently, or about to, work from home companies need to consider their cyber and privacy protocols.

Working from home can result in a watering down of a company’s face to face oversight, its procedures, its compliance and its security. At the same time the company’s exposure expands to each employee’s home location and the personal devices they use.

On the 23rd March 2020, the Australian Financial Review reported coronavirus-related fraud reports increased by 400% in March. To combat the exposure an effective work from home plan should include a three-stage strategy; pre, during and post.

Before taking the leap, a company will need to determine if all employees have internet access and is the quality strong enough to sustain the entire family being at home. Which employees need access and what level of access is required. What security is in place at the home, are patches updated regularly, is the employee using secured Wi-Fi and could personal computers already have malware imbedded on them.

While working from home ensure an appropriate level of authentication is adopted and only access the company system when required. Know how customers and supply chain partners are operating in the crisis, and if their processes have changed be sure they are communicated to the relevant staff. Be extra vigilant of hackers wanting to take advantage of changing conditions, and of fake instructions to persuade an employee to take an action they shouldn’t, such as transferring funds, paying an invoice or sharing private information.

When returning to work employees need to confirm no company material is saved on personal devices. All printed material which contains private information is disposed of in an appropriate manner – not in the household garbage bin! Company access is removed from all personal devices where it is no longer required.

Here are ten quick risk management tips to help transition to working from home:

Ensure strong user passwords
Activate two factor authentications
Use a VPN
Set up firewalls
Maintain antivirus software
Install updates and patches as soon as they are released
Regularly back up data
Be on the lookout for fake phishing emails or calls
Stay up to date with the latest work from home scams
Lock your device when not in use

The world is changing, and we all need to adapt accordingly to stay protected.

work from home

General Advice Warning: This advice is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the advice is appropriate for you and your personal circumstances. Before you make any decision about whether to acquire a certain product, you should obtain and read the relevant product disclosure statement.

All information above has been provided by the author.

Adroit Insurance & Risk, ABN 75 078972 700, AFSL 244 348

This article originally appeared on Adroit Insurance & Risk Blog and has been published here with permission.