The post Cybersecurity for Remote Employees appeared first on Commvault - English - United States.
]]>Alex emphasized a philosophy of considering everything suspect. Whether you’re an employee using a home network or a business managing remote workers, the principle of zero trust is crucial.
This means treating every network, device, and interaction as potentially hostile. For employees, this translates to using trusted VPNs to tunnel all traffic, including DNS, through secure connections. Even if a network requires a password and authentication, it’s essential to remain vigilant, as you never know who else has accessed it.
One key point Alex made is the vulnerability of home networking equipment, such as routers provided by ISPs. These devices often have limited security features. The profit margins on these devices are tight, leading to a short lifespan and a lack of ongoing security updates. This makes them prime targets for bad actors who might use them to steal personal information, lock up data, or even tunnel into your work environment.
Alex recommends investing in more reputable and capable networking devices that offer better security and longer support. While this may require some extra effort in setup and maintenance, it’s a worthwhile investment to protect your data and privacy.
The threats to home networks and personal devices are multifaceted. Bad actors might target you to steal sensitive information like bank account details or use your device as a bot in their command-and-control infrastructure.
Another common tactic is to exploit events posted on social media, such as work anniversaries, to craft convincing phishing emails. These emails often appear to come from HR and prompt you to click on links for benefits or updates, which can lead to malware infections or data breaches.
Alex suggests that a bit of healthy paranoia can go a long way in protecting yourself. Being cautious and taking a moment to verify communications can prevent many common cybersecurity pitfalls. For example, if you receive an email with a link, type the URL manually into your browser instead of clicking on it. If someone calls claiming to be from a company, hang up and call the company back using a verified number.
In a world where remote work is the norm, cybersecurity awareness is more critical than ever. By adopting a zero-trust mindset, investing in better home networking equipment, and being cautious with online interactions, you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime. For businesses, it’s essential to monitor and protect remote workers’ devices and networks, treating every environment as potentially hostile.
Check out the full episode of the podcast?here.
The post Cybersecurity for Remote Employees appeared first on Commvault - English - United States.
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