Working remotely is becoming increasingly popular, especially for employees with young children. But How Do You Keep Security when Employees Work Remotely? Here are a few tips to get started.
How Do You Keep Security when Employees Work Remotely?
Some organisations allow employees to work from home to keep workers productive. Doing so can attract and retain top talent and save on overhead costs. But it also means you must work harder to ensure your data stays secure. Here are a few tips for doing so:
Encrypt Data
You should encrypt all data stored on laptops and servers as a company. If you can’t do this yourself, hire a third party to encrypt your data. Your employees should know that the data is encrypted and take the same precautions with it as they do with their devices, like keeping it safe in a locked drawer when they’re not using it or not leaving it out in plain view.
Monitor Network Activity
Install software that monitors your network’s activity, including mail servers and file servers. This will help you identify any unauthorized access or suspicious activity. You can then keep an eye on the remote employee’s activities while working remotely and address any problems immediately if they arise.
Use Remote-Access Software
Use remote-access software, such as GoToMyPC or LogMeIn, to see what your remote employee is doing on your network from anywhere at any time. This will allow you to see what sites he visits, what files he’s accessing, which programs he uses and how long he uses them. If he logs into a program or website you didn’t permit him to use, you’ll be able to address the problem immediately.
Make Personal Connections
When an employee first starts working remotely, get to know him as a person. Meet him in person at least once before allowing him to work remotely regularly so you can get a feel for his personality and trust his ability to work independently without constant supervision or reminders to be careful with sensitive information.
You may want to meet regularly with the employee during his first year of working remotely. Hence, he knows he has someone he can go to if there’s ever a problem with his connection or some other issue that requires immediate attention.
Work with a Specialist
If your company is small enough, you may be able to handle all the technical issues that come up without hiring a third party. But if you don’t have the time or expertise to handle everything, seek out a security professional that can help you with your needs.
A proactive approach to data security is crucial for any organization, and it’s even more important if you’re allowing employees to work remotely. The tips above will help you keep your data safe and secure.