Remote work has become a standard for many businesses. That’s not news. The flexibility and comfort that it offers is well-suited for today’s working environment.
However, it can come at a cost when cybersecurity challenges emerge alongside this modern work structure. Without the protection of a centralized office network, remote employees and IT assets are the first to become prime targets. Phishing scams and ransomware attacks, for example, are becoming more and more common, which forces businesses to take proactive measures – or suffer the consequences.
Dots was established with the goal of improving how businesses handle their IT assets, and that includes prioritizing safety and security. To keep your remote workforce safe, follow these small but essential steps that we have listed here for you. This way, you strengthen cybersecurity as well as safeguard your operations. Of course, if you want to know more about the products we offer that can help you with this process, feel free to reach out to us.
Alt-text: cybersecurity and remote working
Keep Track of Your IT Assets with IT Inventory Software
Maintaining visibility over IT assets is a crucial aspect of cybersecurity in a remote work environment. Many security breaches occur when outdated or unauthorized devices have access to company networks. Using IT inventory software can ensure your ability to track, monitor, and manage all IT assets effectively. Of course, this on its own is not enough, but it is a good place to start.
Implement Strong Access Control Measures
In order to prevent unauthorized access, you need to enforce strict access control policies on a broad and holistic scale. Some key measures that you can take are:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This requires your employees to verify their identity through an additional layer of security, such as fingerprint scan or a one-time password, before they connect to your systems.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): This limits access to sensitive information, based on an employee’s role within the organization. You don’t want all of your employees having access to all of your data, and this can help you sort who sees what.
- Secure Password Policies: This encourages employees to use complex passwords, as well as implement password management tools, for the good of the organization.
Educate Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
This might sound like a cliché, but the first line of defense against cyber threats is a well-informed workforce. Regular cybersecurity training can ensure that your employees recognize and respond appropriately to security events. Don’t leave out on topics like identifying phishing emails and suspicious links, safeguarding company data, and using VPNs or encrypted connections. They might seem obvious to you, but are they really that obvious to all of your employees? It is critical to make cybersecurity awareness a core part of your company’s culture.
Regularly Update and Patch Systems
Like an open window for a thief, outdated software is a common entry point for hackers. Ensure that all operating systems, applications, and security software are up to date. Otherwise, you will not be able to fully prevent cyber threats. IT asset management tools can help you automate this process of tracking and applying security updates.
How do I get started with that? Good thing you asked.
- Enable automatic updates for all software
- Monitor devices for missing security patches
- Replace outdated hardware that no longer receives security updates
Perform Regular IT Audits and Monitoring
Detecting security threats before they escalate is a much better idea than dealing with them when they burst. That’s why you need to constantly monitor your IT environment. Your IT team should conduct regular audits, assessing vulnerabilities and compliance with security policies.
At Dots, we are here to help you. IT asset management software can help you to track where all your devices are and who they assigned to, so devices with sensitive data never slip off the radar. Simply put, proactive monitoring strengthens security and helps you respond quickly to potential threats. And that, at the end of the day, is what you really want to achieve.
Protect Your Business with Dots
We hope that it is clear by now that cybersecurity should never be an afterthought – especially in a remote work setting. By implementing IT inventory software, enforcing strict access controls, and educating employees, you too can stay ahead of cybersecurity threats.
Want to enhance your IT security? Sign up to Dots for free. Our free ITAM software provides powerful solutions to help businesses track and manage IT assets efficiently.
