5 Remote Working Security Risks To Look Out For

Having employees work from home provides many benefits, including helping to lower office costs and save money on commuting. It can also increase worker productivity because there are no office distractions to contend with.

Working from home presents its share of obstacles for employers, however. Hackers gaining access to a system can result in stolen data, malicious software downloads, and more. This article highlights five major remote access security challenges your business becomes exposed to when employees work from home:

Remote Device Access

When employees work from home, they complete their work tasks from their computers. If this is the case, your IT team may need to install and manage employees' devices in addition to the company's on-site computers, which equates to more devices to protect because many consumer antivirus software won't stop more advanced attacks.

Your employees are most likely all working from different geographical locations, which means you will have to factor in their locations when remotely protecting their devices against viruses and malware.

Malicious Links

Corporate systems are goldmines to hackers; therefore, they frequently use phishing to access their computer networks.

Employees working from home are more susceptible to clicking malicious links that can provide hackers access to the entire company's network. Inadequate visibility into your employees' remote user activity implies that the IT team can't identify advanced threats from remote devices, thus losing the ability to prevent hackers from entering the main network via offsite computers.

VPN Firewall Vulnerability

Companies typically set up virtual private networks (VPNs) for remote users as a more secure connection when compared to public networks. However, this does not prevent employees from accessing other portals using the network, which puts the company's VPN at greater risk of being hacked.

Once a hacker gains access to a VPN, it becomes easier to infiltrate the rest of the network.

Use Of Same Keyword Across All Platforms

When an employee uses the same password for all their logins, especially on their personal computer, company networks are more vulnerable to attacks.

If an employee enters their password into a site that has been hacked, it provides the hacker access, which they can use to access the employees' other accounts, including their work account, which can then be used to access the entire company network.

Hackers can also provide other hackers with passwords, increasing the threat.

These risks are even more significant if the employee uses their home network, which may not be as secure as the company's network.

Theft Or Loss Of Employer's Device(s)

Working from home implies less physical security, which means your employees' remote access devices are also at increased risk of being stolen, which can provide hackers with essential company data.

Furthermore, if the device is a portable one, an employer may easily transport it with them when dining, visiting a friend or relative, and more, where it can accidentally become lost or left behind.

This means anyone that stumbles across a remote access device can use it to view the employer's information, which they can use to hack your system.

Also, the employee may take the device with them into public, using access to a free network, which can put their device at risk of getting hacked and your company's network along with it.

Allowing your employees to work from home has its pros, including cost efficiency, and it also helps keep your employees safe during uncertain times. The key is to know the risks going in, so you can prepare for them - a secure remote access retail guide can help you here.