It comes as no surprise that remote working has seen a sharp rise in recent years, something that was taking place even before the pandemic. However, with so many employees working remotely, every business needs a plan for providing those workers with the IT support they need to do their jobs. Security concerns should be at the top of that planning list for your remote workforce.

As mobile technology and network infrastructure continue to progress, so do the variety of threats to IT environments and sensitive information. That’s a particular concern whenever employees work outside the office — whether they’re teleworking or traveling.

While working from home or other remote locations provides numerous benefits for both the employees and the company, it also comes with increased data security risks. To reduce these potential problems, companies should focus on securing data access rather than the hardware itself — particularly when employees use their own devices.

In order to properly provide the IT support your remote workforce needs, follow these best practices:

1. Create a standardized policy.

Create and execute a standard policy with user guidelines to govern the technology your remote workers use. It’s essential to specify which workers have authorized access from a remote location and detail the network protocols that must be followed.

Once you have this policy in place, regularly audit it to track who has access, who no longer needs that access and who has abused it. Make adjustments accordingly. This process is the foundation for minimizing the possibility of a security breach from a remote location.

2. Enforce strong password security.

It may seem obvious, but creating and using strong passwords can be another basic deterrent when it comes to keeping data safe. Establish a strong protocol such as MFA and physical encryption keys for creating passwords and regularly changing them. Consider giving password control to the IT department so they can create and maintain them.

3. Utilize the cloud.

By using cloud managed services, your remote workers can access the information they need from any location. A cloud service provider can maintain productivity and ensure security by designing, implementing and managing the technology your remote workers will need. This puts the responsibility for protecting confidential data in the hands of the professionals, while also allowing you to streamline costs and operational efficiencies.

4. Use a VPN.

Use a virtual private network (VPN) to create a secure, encrypted connection for your remote workforce. This will allow your remote employees — whether they’re telecommuting or traveling — to connect to your network safely from any location. At the same time, protect the rest of your network by making sure your employees are using devices that are properly configured and updated with the latest security patches. An IT managed services provider can install and manage a private network for you.

5. Limit remote access.

Another basic step that can improve security is limiting who has remote access to the internal network. To reduce threats, give your employees access only to the data and systems directly related to their jobs.

6. Keep everything updated.

This should go without saying, but not nearly enough people listen to this very important message: Keep your software and servers up to date. If the Microsoft Exchange fiasco has shown us anything, it’s that malware, ransomware and data breaches pose a significant threat to any device. And every device can pose a threat to the entire network, particularly when they’re connected through a VPN. Security software and firewalls are essential preventative tools. But companies also need to implement standardized procedures to ensure their employees are using these measures.

7. Engage your staff.

Finally, make sure your employees understand the importance of maintaining a secure IT network. These efforts require constant vigilance on the part of your IT staff or IT managed services provider. Having your whole team on board will make the process easier and reduce the risk factors.

Because of our extensive experience with IT management and support, V2 Systems can help you determine the needs of your remote workforce and help you create a business plan with network solutions that takes your unique situation into account. It’s critical to protect your employees against threats in their email, cloud services and information systems. Contact us to learn how.

Since 1995, Manassas Park, VA-based V2 Systems has employed local systems administrators, network engineers, security consultants, help desk technicians and partnering companies to meet a wide range of clients’ IT needs, from research, to implementation, to maintenance. Concentrate on your VISION…We’ll handle the TECHNOLOGY!