With each employee you have working remotely, cracks in the information
security foundation can start to spread. Hackers know how to exploit
vulnerabilities for financial gain with cyberattacks, ransomware and phishing
emails on the rise.
The last thing your small business needs is an added setback as you try to
grow. Help your teams manage through any remote work changes with clear
communication around information safety best practices.
Policies
Provide all employees with clear and concise written policies covering key
aspects of information security. This should also include the acceptable use of
their laptops, phones, and other devices. As a starting point for remote working
security, consider building out company policies around the following:
-
Conducting company business on personal computers or phones
- Copying business records to personal devices
- Sending business records to personal email or any
other email outside your company domain
- Printing business documents at home
- Using personal flash drives to store business information
The policies don’t need to be lengthy. They just need to be clearly
communicated, easily accessible, and understandable. In remote work settings,
we recommend providing policies in a digital format with multiple points of
contact for questions.
Protection
Remote workers need to be extra vigilant regarding the information security on
all their devices. Train them to be hyper alert to cyberattacks, ransomware and
phishing emails. Warn them that criminals are looking to exploit the spread of
COVID to conduct hacking campaigns. Encourage them to use privacy screens
to protect their information.
TO HELP MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF DILIGENT SECURITY MONITORING,
HERE’S A LIST OF OUR REMOTE EMPLOYEE DO’S AND DON’TS:
Privacy
To deflect brand and reputation threats, it’s imperative to keep personal customer or client data and intellectual property private. Remote employees
who handle sensitive records should have formal training in your privacy policies and tools to prevent misuse.
To learn more, visit ironmountain.com/SMB
