By Springfield Lewis
Security Tips for Working from Home
Security for homeworkers means more than locking the door before you sit down. Remote workers are vulnerable to cyberattacks. So it’s necessary to ensure you are following security guidelines to protect your home office, devices and the work you do for clients.
Don’t think that freelancers fly under the radar of hackers. Malicious individuals often target small businesses because they tend to have less security. They then use these businesses to gain access to larger clients.
Here are some top security tips for working from home that will help protect yourself, your work, clients and colleagues.
For homeworkers, we recommend only using your home network and connecting to the internet via ethernet. A wireless network is easier for a hacker to access.
The goal, of course, is to make your passwords hard to crack. The challenge is to remember them, which is especially difficult when you have different passwords for every login. Fortunately, we have a bonus tip to help you remember complex passwords.
Think of a memorable phrase. Now, take the first letter of each word and put them one after the other. That’s your basic password. Substitute some symbols and numbers for letters, without being too obvious about it, and that will tighten your password security right up.
There are many different security protection systems on the market. You don’t need to pay for top-of-the-line security, but we wouldn’t quibble about a few extra dollars spent here and there either. Security is essential if you are working remotely. We’re talking about 24/7 peace of mind for you and your clients.
Protect your devices with PINs or other digital software that locks them. When you are using your devices in public, be careful to hide your passwords or PINs when logging into systems. You should take care of login information at home, too. Someone standing behind you while you enter a password or a friend sitting at your work laptop to check the weather during your break is also a potential breach of security.
Working from home can free you from commuting, meetings and many of the binds of office life. There are, however, additional responsibilities you will need to take on to work responsibly.
With these security tips for working from home, you will take control of security issues in no time. Plus, you will be able to work knowing your systems, clients, and colleagues are safeguarded as well.