Cybersecurity measures are must-haves for all companies, regardless of size or industry. But if your business lets employees work remotely, there is no guarantee that all personnel takes appropriate measures to protect against cyberattacks.
Hackers are increasingly targeting remote employees, and they show no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future. Your business must plan accordingly for cyberattacks. Otherwise, you risk a data breach that puts your company, its remote employees, and its customers in danger.
Education plays a key role in the success of your company’s cybersecurity strategy. Now, let’s look at five things you can do to get remote staff members up to speed on cybersecurity basics.
1. Highlight the Importance of Cybersecurity
Use data breach facts and figures to illustrate the importance of cybersecurity. For instance, you can provide remote staff members with details about cyberattacks against Target, Experian, and other globally recognized brands. When you do, explain the financial impact of these incidents. Also, describe the short- and long-term implications of the attacks on the brands and their respective stakeholders.
Be prepared to respond to any remote employee concerns and questions regarding prominent cyberattacks, too. It pays to have dedicated cybersecurity professionals on staff to handle employees’ concerns and questions. These pros can explain cyberattacks in terms that remote staff members can understand. In doing so, they can help these staff members see why it is crucial to guard against cyberattacks.
2. Standardize Cybersecurity for Remote Workers
Put cybersecurity front and center for remote staff members. This requires remote business managers to invest in a network monitoring system and other tools they can use to track security across their remote teams. It also involves teaching employees about cybersecurity before letting them work remotely.
By integrating cybersecurity into your remote work processes, your employees will know how your company protects them against cyber threats. At the same time, you can verify your remote personnel are well-equipped to identify cyberattacks and know the risks associated with them. Plus, if a remote worker identifies a cyber threat, he or she will know how to respond to the situation and prevent it from escalating.
3. Secure Your Remote Work Devices
Install security software across all remote work devices. Ensure this software is utilized consistently across your entire device fleet. And verify that employees keep their remote work device software up to date.
It can be beneficial to provide your remote employees with Internet of Things (IoT) devices that already feature the latest security software updates and patches. You can set up these devices in a way that ensures security software is automatically updated or patched as needed. Also, you can share security software updates and patches as soon as they become available. That way, remote workers can always leverage the latest versions of security software and minimize the risk of vulnerabilities that lead to data breaches.
4. Promote Secure Document Sharing
Take advantage of a document sharing platform. From here, you can set permissions on who can access various documents. You can also see who has viewed, edited, or commented on these materials.
If you use a document sharing platform, teach remote workers how to use it. You can establish a training program that educates these employees about document sharing, how it works, and why it is necessary. Furthermore, your program should provide workers with insights they can use to keep documents secure.
5. Gamify Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Utilize cybersecurity awareness training that simulates cyberattacks. For instance, many businesses are using gamification to give remote workers a glimpse into what happens during a cyberattack and how to respond. This helps employees understand how they can help their company mitigate a cyberattack.
When it comes to gamified cybersecurity awareness training, prepare for common cyber threats that impact your business. Oftentimes, it helps to conduct a cybersecurity audit. This allows you to understand your company’s security posture and the threats it faces. Upon completion, you can use the audit to explore ways to enhance your security posture. You can also deploy gamified cybersecurity awareness training that helps your remote staff prepare for cyberattacks they may face at any time.
Teach Your Remote Workers the Ins and Outs of Cybersecurity
Cybercriminals launch attacks every day in the hopes of penetrating business systems, networks, and applications. Meanwhile, hackers search far and wide for vulnerabilities that they can exploit. If your remote employees are not careful, they may unknowingly create vulnerabilities. And if cybercriminals successfully exploit these vulnerabilities, they can wreak havoc across your company.
No one can stop cyberattacks, but you can help your remote workers plan for them. Teach your remote employees the basics of cybersecurity and keep them in the loop regarding emerging cyber threats. Over time, your remote personnel can become key contributors to your business’s cybersecurity strategy. They can help your company protect against current and evolving cyberattacks and stop data breaches.
Get started on educating your remote personnel about cybersecurity basics. Then, your remote workers can detect and address cyberattacks, and your company can bolster its security posture.
