Since last year, working remotely has become more common than ever before. And while some Canadians have headed back to the office in the past few months, many have not. For a lot of people, working from home is here to stay. To make the most of a remote working experience, it’s important to know how to secure your connection, like tightening up your home network security or using a virtual private network (VPN) when using public Wi-Fi.
If you’re working remotely, remember to network securely with the following tips.
Set up a secure network
Working from home has a lot of benefits: there’s no commute, you get to hang out with your pets and sometimes you might even be able to sneak in a nap at lunch. But it has its challenges, too — like the fact that you’re responsible for working over a secure connection.
Securing your home network is easier than it sounds. Start by changing your home Wi-Fi name and password from the default ones your router came with. Make sure the network name doesn’t include any personal information and use a strong, unique password or passphrase. Then, create a separate Wi-Fi network for guests and smart devices. This adds an extra layer of protection for your more sensitive home network since smart devices are often more vulnerable to cyber threats. You can make both of these changes by following the steps in this infographic.
Securing your network won’t just keep your work devices safe, every other device connected to it will be better protected too.
Or use a virtual network instead
Working remotely doesn’t always mean working from home. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi network to get work done, create your own secure network by using a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs create a secure connection between your device and the network to keep your data secure and encrypted.
Before choosing a VPN, it’s important to do some research to make sure it has the features you need. Some VPN services focus on masking your identity online from the sites you visit rather than protecting your data. If you’re using a VPN for network security, choose one that encrypts your data.
Watch out for workplace cyber threats
Whether you’re working at home, the office or elsewhere, it’s important to keep an eye out for work-related cyber threats. One of the biggest threats to watch for are phishing scams — emails pretending to be from a legitimate person or organization in order to get you to send information, click a link or download a harmful file. Businesses and employees are often targeted by phishing attacks because of the valuable information they hold.
Workplace phishing emails may look like they’re from a legitimate organization, a client or even a co-worker. If you receive an unexpected email, especially one with any of the red flags of phishing like urgent or threatening language, take a minute to stop and think: Does this email seem suspicious? Would this person be asking me this? If you’re not sure, reach out to the sender through their official channels to confirm it’s legitimate. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Conclusion
Working remotely has countless benefits for many Canadians, but it only works if you’re connected to a safe and secure network. Double-check that your home network is secured and take steps to protect your devices if you need to connect to an unsecured public network.