How To Train Your Remote Employees On Cyber Security

Over the past decades and the rapid advancements in technology, employees are no longer bound to work in a single location. In fact, employees can now work virtually anywhere in the world, which is a significant factor in achieving a healthier work/life balance, boosting their productivity.

Remote work isn’t only beneficial to employees, but it can also be a cost-effective solution for employers. For one, they no longer have to rent a physical space. Secondly, they now have wide access to talents as they’re no longer bound to a specific location.

Unfortunately, remote working also has its fair share of downsides. The major negative aspect of remote working is the increase of hacks and cybercriminals, causing companies millions, if not billions, of losses. This is why around 70% of surveyed US executives plan on increasing investments in IT infrastructure to secure virtual connectivity. (1)

With the gradual rise of remote workers and the fact that remote working isn’t a short-term ‘solution,’ there’s an immediate need to know about cyber security. Informing your employees about the dangers of hacking and cyber threats is even more crucial since there’s been a 630% increase in cloud-based attacks during the first quarter of 2020. (2)

That being said, here are some ways to train your remote employees on the importance of cyber security:

First and foremost, it’s crucial that your employees are acquainted with cyber security solutions. One of the ways to achieve this is to conduct a seminar or meeting about the nature of cyber security services and the consequences of neglecting this critical security measure.

When educating your team, it’s vital that your message is understandable and relatable. Here’s a quick breakdown of the following concepts:

• Understandable: Since not everyone may have technical skills or be familiar with cyber security jargon, it’s best that your message won’t confuse employees. Hence, as much as possible, try to simplify the terms so they can be understood by all your members, even the non-technical ones.
• Relatable: It may be difficult for employees to see the importance of cyber security if you talk about the general threats of ignoring cyber security. Hence, make the message relatable by talking about the value of safeguarding information in their personal computer. By doing so, employees may relate to the danger since it can happen to them, enabling them to be more cautious as they visit untypical websites or open unsolicited emails.

You may also ask for assistance from a reliable cyber security business expert that can help educate and train your employees on basic security measures and spot potential cyber threats.

As a business owner or a team leader, you should also create a strong remote work policy that helps your team members with cyber risk management. In addition to having a remote work policy, you should also set guidelines when they encounter any cyber incident.

For your reference, here are the important topics that your remote work policy should cover:

• Backup and media storage
• Data protection
• Compliance requirements
• Alternative work sites

Now that your employees are aware of the nature of cyber security, the next thing you should do is to make sure that your team members have the necessary resources and tools to prevent cyber theft. This includes knowing about the nature and importance of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and the need to change passwords regularly. Investing in an all-in-one security service like the Optus internet security suite would also be easier for you and your team to ensure that cyber security measures are followed in place.

If your employees are supported with the right tools, they won’t spend their time worrying about complying with your cyber security measures manually. Instead, they become more confident that they’re not violating any company policies you have, allowing them to focus on their work.

Even if you have the best tools and invest in reputable IT security services, it would still be futile if your employees have weak passwords. After all, passwords serve as the first line of defense against any unauthorized access. Strong and unique passwords will also make it difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to your network, which is why it’s advised by the best network security services.

Here are some tips to consider when generating a strong password:

• Refrain from using common characters and word combinations. This includes using your name, birthday, and predictable number sequences like ‘1234.’
• Go for long passwords with at least eight characters. It’s best if a long password has random words, digits, and even symbols.

Vary your long passwords across different accounts. If you find it difficult to remember your passwords, opt for a password manager. (3)

With the rise of remote working, cyber attacks are continually on the rise. To safeguard your company, you should exert extra effort in cyber security. Fortunately, the tips mentioned in this article can serve as a stepping stone to strengthening your security measures, allowing you and your team to work comfortably in this era of virtual working. Alternatively, you can seek a reliable computer security service or enterprise security services provider to boost your business’s cyber security efforts.

1. “It’s time to reimagine where and how work will get done”, Source: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/library/covid-19/us-remote-work-survey.html
2. “Statistics Of Cyber Security Risks When Working from Home”, Source: https://www.dbxuk.com/statistics/cyber-security-risks-wfh
3. “How To Choose a Strong Password”, Source: https://www.bu.edu/tech/support/information-security/security-for-everyone/how-to-choose-a-strong-password/