How to Maintain Security When Employees Work Remotely

What is remote work security?

Figuring out how to maintain security when employees work remotely comes down to effectively managing their online work environments. To do this successfully, businesses need to overcome remote work security challenges, like the use of personal devices, unsecured networks, greater chance of physical device theft, etc.

Remote work security covers any measures taken to ensure the virtual environment that remote workers use maintains confidentiality, integrity, and compliance. The goal of remote work security is to protect data assets, systems, and networks from unauthorized access, theft, damage, and other malicious or negligent activities.

How to maintain security when employees work remotely [8 ways]

The true test lies in how to maintain security when employees work remotely without sacrificing productivity. Addressing security challenges typically involves employing technologies to manage endpoints within the business's data network or monitoring the network itself. Fortunately, there are several remote work security best practices available to streamline remote work processes.

Way 1. Provide employees with appropriate tools

Crafting a remote work security policy is only the beginning; the real responsibility lies in equipping your employees with the necessary tools and resources for compliance. From VPNs for remote work to password managers and antivirus software, ensure your remote workforce has all essential tools at their disposal, allowing them to concentrate on their tasks without fretting over compliance issues.

Way 2. Employee security training

Effective remote work security begins with comprehensive training. Offer cybersecurity awareness training to your employees, and ensure your IT team is available to address any security-related issues encountered by your remote workforce.

Additionally, emphasizes the importance of using strong, unique passwords. Weak passwords pose significant security threats, particularly in remote work scenarios. Encourage employees to create strong, varied passwords and avoid password reuse to mitigate risks to your organization's security.

Way 3. Deploy multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication enhances security by requiring users to provide multiple pieces of evidence to verify their identity. This approach helps mitigate phishing attacks, as even if hackers obtain one set of login credentials, they would need additional corresponding credentials to execute their malicious intentions.

Furthermore, multi-factor authentication is effective in scenarios where a physical device is stolen, providing an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access.

Way 4. Regularly update network security systems

Ensure that all devices used by remote employees to access company or customer data are equipped with network security systems, including firewalls, antivirus software, and spam filtering tools. It is crucial to keep these systems up to date to effectively safeguard against threats.

Consider investing in a mobile device management platform to remotely wipe sensitive data from lost or stolen devices, enhancing security measures and minimizing potential risks.

Way 5. Monitor remote worker practices

While it would be ideal for employees to consistently adhere to remote work security best practices, this isn't always the case. Whether due to intentional actions or oversight, remote staff may sometimes deviate from expectations, posing security risks that require immediate attention.

Various remote monitoring systems are available to monitor employee activity, allowing organizations to identify and address security concerns promptly. It's essential to choose a system that aligns with your organization's needs.

To maintain transparency and trust, communicate with employees well in advance about the intention to monitor their activity to ensure compliance with the company's remote work security policy, thus avoiding any perception of intrusive surveillance.

Way 6. Monitor network traffic

Prohibit the use of unsecured Wi-Fi networks to safeguard against potential security breaches. However, this doesn't mean employees cannot work from their local coffee shops occasionally (once it's safe to do so). Instead, emphasize to your staff the importance of using the company's VPN to secure their connection when working in public spaces.

Way 7. Manage personal device usage

In today's tech-driven landscape, many organizations adopt a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, offering flexibility but also introducing security concerns for remote employees. Personal devices may lack password protection or run outdated antivirus software, posing risks.

Consider restricting the BYOD policy to in-office employees and providing company-provided devices for remote staff to mitigate security risks effectively.

Way 8. Establish a disaster recovery plan

Although prevention is ideal, businesses must also prepare for potential damage control.

A disaster recovery plan delineates the actions an organization will take in response to cybersecurity breaches, attacks, or data leaks. These measures may include remotely wiping or disabling an employee's laptop if left unattended, such as at a local restaurant.

Bonus tip: Secure remote access software for working remotely

In the era of remote work, ensuring secure and reliable access to work systems and files is crucial. What is the best way to maintain your privacy and security while working from home? AnyViewer stands out as a top choice for secure remote access software, providing numerous benefits that make it ideal for individuals and organizations alike.

Security features of AnyViewer

AnyViewer prioritizes security with robust measures, including:

• Industry-leading end-to-end encryption: AnyViewer employs state-of-the-art asymmetric ECC 256-bit end-to-end encryption to ensure top-notch security.
• Two-factor authentication (TFA) for accounts: Add an extra layer of security to your accounts with TFA. If enabled, you'll need to confirm logins from new devices via email.
• Monitoring via screen walls: Keep an eye on multiple device screens at once with the screen wall feature, making it easy to spot any unusual activity.
• User role permissions management: Let your team create their own AnyViewer accounts and assign them roles and permissions to ensure everyone has the right level of access.
• Constant updates: AnyViewer releases new versions regularly to stay ahead of potential threats and keep your security up-to-date.

How to work remotely with AnyViewer

Here's a general guide on how to work remotely with AnyViewer from different perspectives.

If an employer or an IT professional needs to monitor employee devices remotely:

Step 1. Download and install the software on the employer’s computer. Follow the installation prompts and configure the initial settings. Set up a user account for monitoring.

Step 2. Install the software on the employees. Log in to the same account as the employer.

Step 3. On the employer's device, navigate to the "Device" section, select your local device, and then opt for "Screen wall". Follow the instructions to create screen walls and add all the computers to the screen walls that you’d like to monitor.

Step 4. You can now oversee and control all the added desktops within a unified window.

If you’re an employee need to access your office computer from your home computer:

Step 1. Download and install the software on both your office computer and your home computer. Log in to the same account.

Step 2. On your home computer, choose your office computer from the list, and click “One-click control”.

Step 3. Now, you can control your office computer from your home computer and transfer files.

★Tips:

It is recommended to upgrade to AnyViewer Enterprise Edition for better management, including Mass Deployment (MSI), creating groups for computers, unlimited remote sessions, etc.

The bottom line

That’s how to maintain security when employees work remotely. In summary, maintaining security for remote work requires a comprehensive approach that combines technology, training, and policies. By implementing robust security measures, and monitoring practices, and using secure remote access tools like AnyViewer, businesses can protect their data and ensure compliance. Adopting these strategies will help organizations safeguard their virtual environments and support a productive remote workforce.