Working Remotely
Working from home has become the new norm for businesses since we entered the pandemic. Here are some of the set up and security factors to consider and some of the areas where Hood Sweeney Technology can help.
Security
Before you press the ON button and schedule a virtual meeting, it’s essential to check your business security profile. Most businesses have some level of personally identifiable information (PII) that must be protected, both in the office and when working remotely.
- Online that means securing access to business devices through Multi Factor Authentication, Malware and other security software, and offline with policies that restrict staff from sharing client or other sensitive information.
- As an example, businesses should discourage staff from printing PII from home printers, and if they must, they should shred any papers that carry such information.
Users must have up-to-date, end-point protection. A traditional Anti-Virus solution may not be enough to fully protect the corporate network, and the user’s computer when from working home. Talk to Hood Sweeney Technology about our Security as a Service offering.
Effectiveness – including Internet speed
For effective remote working, you will need to consider many things, including your internet speed and remote access to the systems you will need to use.
Working from home isn’t always as simple as picking up your laptop and taking it home. Many systems that need to talk to each other will require other remote access tools.
Hood Sweeney Technology can provide assistance to make it possible.
End user education
The last line of defence from a cybersecurity attack is always the end user. It’s all too easy to click on a dubious email, if you don’t know what to look out for.
Hood Sweeney Technology can provide training and testing to make sure users know what to watch for when using work computers and systems at home, and what to do if they come across something that seems suspicious.
Mobile device management
When you’re working remotely and not connected to your corporate network, your computer may be missing a key management piece – including access to important security and software updates.
With the correct Mobile device management setup, computers operated from home will still be able to receive updates, and with the right tools, a computer can also be locked or wiped if it is stolen or misplaced.
Talk to Hood Sweeney Technology about getting the right management tools in place.
Importance of still backing up end points
You may be more likely to store information on your computer when working remotely, rather than on a file management solution. As these computers are not always checking into the corporate network, a crash, accidently deleted file or virus can be catastrophic.
It is important to ensure that your devices can still be backed up and recovered, no matter where you’re working from.
Don’t Use Personal Devices
We advise against allowing staff to use their home devices for work purposes. It may seem like a fast or easy fix when staff need to work from home, but businesses are exposing their systems to risk if they have no history of the home set up or record of what is on the home device.
The only way to mitigate the risks is to use machines that the business knows. Hood Sweeney Technology builds computers that meet the needs of a business.
So, if you’re struggling to set up your teams to work remotely, or can’t find the hardware you need, Hood Sweeney Technology can assist. Our team is available for consultation by phone, email or other virtual means, and can assist with your setups and support.