Remote workers, despite the general consensus, are some of the hardest-working employees. The lack of workplace distractions or stress from a commute often means people are happier with their work, work longer and put more effort in thanks to being in an environment they feel more comfortable and productive in. And studies have shown that remote workers are more productive than when they’re in the office.
However, working from home carries some risks that you need to get creative about solving some security issues, ones that you can easily manage in an office or workplace, but not so much outside of it.
Because when employees are spread out off-site, you cannot just expect office security detail or an on-site IT department to help out. It means managers need to be proactive, and we have 4 tips that can help you to do just that.
Tag and Track Work Equipment
Especially important for remote workers who also need to work outside of the home on field calls or go to client meetings, but equally important for those working from a home location too.
Laptops, phones, and tablets are the most valuable assets remote workers handle, so making sure that they can be tracked and returned if they get lost or stolen is a good idea.
This means implementing effective tracking and tagging asset technology on all work-related equipment. Not for the purpose of tracking where your employees are actually working from, but for getting back your property if it falls into the wrong hands.
Use Smart Tech to Monitor and Protect
The risk can multiply fast when you move to the digital aspect of remote working. It’s not enough to rely solely on passwords anymore; you need to have more stringent security in place, and smart tech can deliver this for you and help you spot issues before they become major threats.
Opticore IT highlights how AI monitoring tools can track a whole host of suspicious activity. From unusual login attempts to strange network behaviour and unauthorised abscesses, knowing this in real time allows you to implement protection steps before damage is done. Especially in the event that your employee is unaware of this occurring, you can protect them and the company.
Provide Security Products
If you’re wondering why it’s the employer’s job to provide security for remote employees, it’s not as far-fetched as it seems. Because if the company is investing in equipment, even just a laptop for employees to work remotely, it makes sense that you want to protect your investment. And this also means protecting your employees’ chosen place of work.
It’s not about paying to turn their homes into a fortress of security; it’s smart investments like lockable laptop cases, privacy screens, and secret storage boxes or anti-theft bags that can be used in the home or when out and about. They’re understated security tools that can be extremely effective.
Training Is Important
Lastly, a really effective tip is to ensure that employees know and understand the risks they could potentially be facing. And that they know how to protect themselves from different types of attacks both physical and digital.
If someone tries to steal their equipment, have a protocol in place so they know how to protect themselves. If they encounter digital threats or potential digital threats, cover the basics so they can identify them properly and protect the company. This allows them to become part of the security system, not the weak spot.
