The concept of a remote workforce is rising in Canada, with employers preferring to hire resources from around the world. However, several security risks are attached to managing a remote workforce as the remote-access tech tools are prone to be compromised by cybercriminals.
Most organizations don’t pay enough attention to cybersecurity; even a small loophole can prove catastrophic. Employers must be concerned about the online security of their workforce and the privacy of their confidential data. The use of VPN for remote workers in Canada can significantly improve the online safety of telecommuters.
Let CanadaVPNs help you find out how to enhance the online security of your remote workforce from Canada.
Redefine Your Cybersecurity Policy
Organizations must stay on top of security systems as cybercriminals continuously change their strategies. For example, when you work with a virtual team, you face additional risks, including using personal devices and connecting while connected to insecure networks. To remain updated, firms must continually review their cybersecurity program.
According to a TechTarget guideline, a cybersecurity strategy should be “a high-level plan for how your organization will secure its assets during the next three to five years.”
Understanding the possible threats is the fundamental step in developing a cybersecurity plan. Next, evaluate your current plan to see whether you have the appropriate software and tools to safeguard your workforce. Finally, can the IT staff use the tools provided to them correctly to carry out a successful plan?
Once you’ve gained a clear understanding of where you stand, you can look at methods to upgrade and enhance your cybersecurity plan, preferably emphasizing avoiding potential cyberattacks rather than responding to them. Be sure to notify all relevant personnel and record your approach. Remember that proper training for your staff should be a part of your cybersecurity plan.
Cybersecurity Awareness and Training of Employees
Several paid and free cybersecurity courses are available both in-person and online for your staff’s training. Your workforce should get regular training courses, and new staff training should include cybersecurity coursework. Ongoing training should typically know the following:
- Basic understanding of security threats (phishing, malware, ransomware).
- Password maintenance and security
- Harmful sites
- Threats posed by using personal devices outside the network
- How to catch alarming activities
- What should they do when a cybercriminal attacks them
Install Remote Desktop Systems and Enable Multi-Factor Authentication
It is advised to use a secure desktop configuration, like a VPN, or MFA (Multi-factor Authentication), to stay protected against the growing risks that remote and hybrid workforce brings. However, to securely log in with MFA, a user must also provide two or so more authentication techniques. In fact, according to Microsoft experts, 99.9% of hacked accounts do not use MFA.
Never Trust a Public Network
For remote workers, “work from home” typically means doing it from anywhere, even in a local cafe. It is opposite to the data encryption you get when working connected to a private connection (password-protected). As a result, anyone having essential cybersecurity malicious knowledge can retrieve plain text data.
Data encryption immensely improves security. Apart from laptops and computers, this also applies to tablets and mobile phones. Even doing the simple thing of checking email on a phone while connected to an unprotected network can undermine security.
Implement Zero-Trust Access
Zero trust work structure remains crucial, especially for remote employees. The zero trust concept is based on the notion that any device or person trying to connect to a network might be malicious. Hence all access points and activities require authentication. Users who are cloud-based or local, both in and out of the network, are included.
According to an IBM analysis, 20% of data leaks in 2021 came from credential theft, and each incident averaged a cost of $4.37 million. However, the data breach at businesses that adopted a zero trust strategy was lesser, costing $1.76 million.
Upgrade Password Management
Even though you may have heard this advice before – Never use “password” as your password. Likewise, the most common passwords like “password1” or “1234.” Cybercriminals can use several techniques to figure out widely common passwords. Following are a few suggestions for secure passwords:
- For each login, use a new password
- Use only random numbers and letters for your password, not any street names, pets, or dates
- Never give your password to anyone.
- It is more challenging to figure out a longer password
- Use a safe password management platform to save passwords if you wish to.
Additional Cybersecurity Tips for Telecommuters
- Monitor your remote employees. “In a remote work setting, there may be a higher risk of mischief or data abuse. However, keep in mind that insiders, not outside hackers, are typically responsible for data breaches.,” Rembiesa says.
- Encrypt all the sensitive information sent from or stored on remote devices like personnel, financial or medical records. “The hard drive of the computer is fully encrypted to make sure that even if it gets into the wrong hands, the information on it cannot be accessed,” Anscombe says.
Conclusion
A cyberattack often has catastrophic effects on companies in Canada. Therefore, organizations must prioritize securing the internet activities of their digital workplace from cybercrime. Starting points include hiring the best cybersecurity experts, creating a cybersecurity policy, and training staff members to be secure when working away from home. Having a strategy in place may assist in protecting your company, your assets, and your staff.
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