A: Above all, information security is one of the greatest challenges for companies allowing remote work during the COVID-19 outbreak. When an employee is at the office, their work is protected by safety standards that keep your company’s network and data secure. However, an employee working from home may not have the same safety measures in place to protect your organization’s devices and information.
Listed below are measures to consider:
- Have a virtual private network (VPN) in place and ensure employees are using it to access company systems and data when working remotely. It could also be beneficial for your company to prohibit employees from accessing company information from public networks altogether.
- Mandate the use of security and antivirus software. This software should be up to date and include the latest patches.
- Prohibit employees from sharing their work devices with friends and family members. Doing so reduces risks associated with unauthorized or inadvertent access of company information.
- Require a two-factor authentication for all company passwords. Two-factor authentication adds a layer of security that allows companies to protect against compromised credentials.
- Consider security precautions for mobile devices. A smartphone could grant access to any number of applications, emails and stored passwords.
- Have employees report any issues or cyber scams to your internal IT department. If your company does not have an IT support staff, consider outsourcing to a managed service provider (MSP).
Contact your Liberty Advisor to review your current insurances and understand what coverages are available should you experience a cyber related catastrophe. If you don’t have a policy now, we can quote one for you!
