9 tips for secure remote working

For secure remote working, follow our 9 tips. Nothing complicated — just a few reminders to keep your cybersecurity at its best.

A computer virus can strike quickly. It can be a real hassle, especially when your computer is also your only work or contact tool. To avoid these inconveniences, we've put together a list of 9 tips for secure remote working: antivirus, connections, behaviour... we cover it all!

1. First tip for secure remote working: install an antivirus

Virus means... antivirus! It's the foundation of protecting your computer. Our survey, conducted among more than 1,000 Belgians, shows that the main IT-related fear is computer viruses. Yet, according to a SpotIT study, fewer than 70% of people aged 18 to 34 had installed antivirus software on their device.

For secure remote working, install your antivirus and download its updates whenever the software prompts you to. There are online comparison tools that can help you find the software that suits you best (free or paid).

2. Remember to update your computer

Nobody wants to install a computer update. It takes time, and we always put it off. Yet it's essential for rock-solid cybersecurity.

Why? Because updating your operating system also helps fix security flaws. The digital world keeps evolving: hackers are always finding new ways to get into your computer. Updates make it possible to spot these "entry points" and close them.

3. Use a reliable WiFi connection for secure remote working

Still according to the SpotIT study, 7 out of 10 young Belgians can't say whether they're connected to secure WiFi. But how do you recognise a secure WiFi connection? It's fairly simple. If it's your personal WiFi, at home, with a WPA2 key and a password you can barely remember, it's reliable.

If you browse the internet without going through WiFi — using an Ethernet cable connected directly to your computer — there's nothing to worry about. A wired connection is safer than WiFi.

Be wary of free, public WiFi networks, as they're more likely to be compromised by hackers. If you travel, check public WiFi networks carefully. If they ask you to identify yourself with an email address, that's a sign the WiFi is secure. And secure WiFi means secure remote working!

Do you travel often? This article on protecting your devices might interest you.

4. Use different passwords

And, by extension, use different codes to log in to your professional and personal accounts. Also avoid easy choices like "123456", "my-date-of-birth" or "my-daughter's-first-name".

Make it harder for yourself. Use numbers, capital letters, symbols. Most browsers also suggest, when you create an account on a website, that you use a strong password.

So change your passwords regularly. According to our survey, 30% of the Belgians asked never change their email passwords. Yet it's important to regularly change your passwords, both personal and professional.

A little tip? Set aside, once a quarter or once a month, an hour in your schedule to change all your passwords at once.

If you can't remember them, write them down on a piece of paper or in a notebook that you keep somewhere secure. One mistake to avoid? Compiling all your passwords in a "notepad"-style file. It's still a file, and therefore easy to hack.

Another way to boost your cybersecurity? Download password manager software. This lets you keep all your codes and access keys in one secure place. Another advantage of these digital vaults? You can access them from anywhere, even abroad.

5. Behave during remote work as you would in private

Here we're talking about digital behaviour. If there are things you wouldn't do on your personal computer, don't do them while working remotely either. The shortest remote-working tips are sometimes the best!

By the way, if you'd like more remote-working tips, feel free to reread our article on remote working in winter!

6. Watch out for unexpected messages

Your cybersecurity runs through your inbox: it's the most open gateway to the outside world. All mailboxes already sort your mail, moving ambiguous or overly promotional messages to a SPAM folder.

However, some messages can slip through the net, especially if they come from senders you know and normally trust. Did a colleague on holiday suddenly send you an email? That's odd, especially if it's not like them.

Ask yourself the right questions: does my contact usually send messages like this? If the slightest doubt arises, don't click. Prefer a phone call instead, especially if the email mentions an emergency or asks you to fill in data.

Also pay attention to messages that appear to come from your phone provider, your bank or an official body. Some hackers can copy the look of these official emails to get you to click on a link and hand over confidential information such as your credit card number, your online banking credentials or your password. If in the slightest doubt, contact the sender via their official email address or by phone to verify the authenticity of their message.

In short, pay attention to all these messages that look normal but which, in context, raise questions.

7. Follow the cybersecurity rules set by your company

If your company has an IT department, it has almost certainly put cybersecurity rules in place. Don't dodge them. To practise secure remote working, follow them. And above all, contact them at the slightest doubt! These security rules were carefully thought through by professionals who know the demands of your job. It's not about locking you down, but about protecting you and the company you work for.

8. Back up your data regularly

In the event of a cyberattack, your computer may become partially or completely unusable. Your data may be lost or compromised. To avoid having to start from scratch, back up your work regularly somewhere other than your local files.

Use your company's network if it has one, the Cloud, or a "good old" USB stick. Be careful to remove the stick from your computer once your backup is done. If it's still plugged into your machine during a cyberattack, your files are toast!

9. Last tip for secure remote working: raise the alarm!

If you start to have doubts (more and more strange emails, files disappearing), don't hesitate to raise the alarm. Contact your company's IT department or call in a computer specialist. While it could just be a bug, the issue could be much more serious. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure!

Did you like our tips for secure remote working? Then don't hesitate to discover the new Safe & Connected assistance service from Redion!

Article written in collaboration with We are the Words.