How Remote Access Work in St. Petersburg Could Be Making Your Data Vulnerable

Whether you’re a small business owner or an employee working from home, remote access work can open your computer up to data vulnerabilities.

Hackers are always looking for new ways to get at your data, and they’ve found a big one in companies that allow employees to work remotely. We’ve seen several major cybersecurity attacks against businesses with remote workers this year. So why is this happening? And how can you protect yourself?

Remote access vulnerabilities stem from the nature of remote access, which allows someone far away to control your computer as if they were sitting right in front of it. 

This connection is useful for legitimate workers who need to access their systems from offsite, but it also means anyone who gains access to the system has full control over everything on it.

Common Security Threats Facing Remote Access Work

With the coronavirus pandemic, many employees have been forced to work from home. Unfortunately, this has also caused a spike in cyberattacks and data breaches. Only 43% of companies were prepared for remote work.

All businesses need to be aware of the security threats that come with this sudden change and take steps to protect themselves. Here are three ways remote access work could be making your data vulnerable:

A Lack of Security Solutions

If you’ve never worked from home before and don’t have any security solutions for a remote workforce, you’re putting your business at risk. 

For example, if you have employees accessing sensitive data on their personal computers or using mobile devices to access emails and other company accounts, you’re vulnerable to attacks.

Poor Authentication Practices

Password-only authentication is no longer enough to keep your data safe. This is especially true if you have employees working in unfamiliar environments with unreliable internet connections where they may not be able to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). 

In addition, it’s easy for bad actors to gain access to accounts if people don’t use strong passwords or reuse the same password across various platforms. Make sure your employees change the passwords to their accounts every six months to minimize the risk of data breaches. 

Unsecured Devices

Remote workers often use personal devices to connect to corporate networks. This practice is called “bring your own device” (BYOD). While BYOD can increase employee productivity and reduce costs, it leaves companies vulnerable to cyberattacks because the organization does not have control over the security of these devices.

Organizations should implement a strong BYOD policy that dictates how personal devices are secured and used for work purposes to mitigate this risk. 

Stay Secure with ShredQuick

At ShredQuick, we’re committed to helping St. Petersburg-area businesses keep their data secure with an array of customized services. To learn more about how we can help your company stay safe from data breaches, please contact our friendly staff.