Remote and hybrid work give employees greater flexibility, but they can also introduce cybersecurity risks. Whether employees work from home, travel, or connect from another location, they must know how to protect company data, devices, and accounts outside the office.
Security leaders play an important role in reinforcing secure habits wherever work happens. The following cybersecurity tips can reduce remote-work risks and keep employees alert to phishing, insecure networks, device threats, and other common attacks.
Stay Cyber Secure When Working Remotely
Security awareness is very much top-of-mind when people are working in an office environment. However, when people change their work routines, their cyber security habits can also change. To stay cyber secure when working remotely, employees can do the following:
- Use a secure connection to connect to the company network. Ensure the company VPN is configured to use multi-factor authentication.
- Only work from home and do not connect to the company network with any unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Do not share work data and information with the home computer or personal devices. There is a risk that personal computers and mobile devices do not have the latest security updates for the operating systems and browsers.
- Make sure your computer has the latest applications, operating systems, network tools, and internal software installed. Have the IT/support team install malware protection and anti-spam software on laptops and computers.
- Create new and strong passwords for your laptop, corporate mobile device, and email.
- Use only approved cloud applications for sharing and storing data.
- Avoid storing or printing paper documents with sensitive information at their home.
The organization should continue to promote security awareness best practices and leverage, newsletters micro- and nano-learnings, and other campaign awareness tools. This keeps security awareness top-of-mind and helps reinforce the lessons learned from training and simulations.
How to Secure Devices When Working Remotely
Encourage employees to follow these practices when using computers and other devices outside the office:
- Keep software updated. Install the latest security updates for operating systems, browsers, applications, and connected devices.
- Secure the home network. Use password-protected Wi-Fi, enable the router’s firewall, and change default network names and passwords.
- Use approved security software. Keep antivirus and endpoint protection enabled to detect threats in websites, downloads, attachments, and external storage devices.
- Protect accounts. Create unique passwords or passphrases for every account, use a password manager, and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Think before you click. Treat unexpected emails, texts, links, attachments, and social media messages with caution. If a message seems suspicious, verify it through a trusted channel before responding.
Remote employees remain an important line of defense against cyberattacks. Regular security awareness training and reminders can reinforce secure habits and give employees the confidence to recognize and report suspicious activity.
6 Tips for Mobile Device Security
Mobile devices give employees the flexibility to work from almost anywhere, but they can also expose company data and accounts to cyber threats. Encourage employees to follow these six practices:
- Turn off Bluetooth when not in use. Disable Bluetooth and device discovery when they are not needed, especially in public places.
- Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi. Turn off automatic connections to public networks. Use a trusted network, secure hotspot, or company-approved VPN instead.
- Use strong device authentication. Protect every device with a unique passcode and enable fingerprint or facial recognition when available.
- Keep devices and apps updated. Install operating system, security, and application updates promptly to address known vulnerabilities.
- Watch for mobile phishing. Treat unexpected texts, QR codes, links, attachments, and app notifications with caution. Verify suspicious messages through a trusted channel before responding.
- Limit app permissions. Only install apps from trusted sources and give them the minimum access needed. Review permissions for location, contacts, files, camera, and microphone regularly.
Employees should also keep devices with them, enable automatic screen locking, and report lost or stolen devices immediately. Work devices should never be shared with family members, friends, or other unauthorized users.
Build a More Secure Remote Workforce
Cybersecurity must extend beyond the office. By reinforcing secure habits and providing ongoing training, organizations can equip remote employees to recognize threats, protect sensitive information, and respond appropriately wherever they work.
Fortra Security Awareness Training combines engaging training content, real-world phishing simulations, and actionable insights to strengthen employee security behaviors and reduce human risk.
