Workplace PCs tend to be more protected than those found in our homes. Therefore, you need to make sure you always work safely on your home PC.
With remote working on the rise, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that we don’t take our eye off the ball when it comes to security. Organizations, naturally, have more finances to invest and enhanced IT expertise, but it’s still easy to stay safe at home. All you need to do is know how to protect yourself. And, to get you started, we’re going to share some fantastic ways to make sure you remain safe.
Working Safely on your Home PC
Safety on your home PC can be achieved quickly and easily by following these best practices:
- Use Company Recommended Apps: It’s likely that your organization will have a list of authorized apps that it recommends you use. And it pays to stick with these apps. Your IT team will have vetted all the approved apps and confirmed that they are correct for your needs and safe. It may be tempting to download alternative apps if you’re experiencing problems, but this could compromise your safety. If in doubt, contact your IT team.
- Implement All Updates: Software and hardware updates are crucial when it comes to getting the best IT experience. And, of course, they maximize your security. This is why you need to install all updates as soon as possible. Sometimes these updates will be automatic, but they will often need direct authorization from the user. Either way, the install process is simple and requires little more than a short wait.
- Use a VPN: All data is sensitive and, accordingly, business data needs to be treated the same as personal data: carefully. One of the best ways to protect your data is by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). An extended private network, a VPN will protect and encrypt any data that is transmitted across your internet connection. Most organizations should offer a VPN as part of your remote connection, but having a VPN installed at home will only strengthen your privacy. We recommend PIA (Private Internet Access) for VPN which can be used at home or on the road across all devices.
- Beware of Coronavirus Malware: There has been a marked rise in coronavirus based malware and phishing scams, so it’s vital that you stay alert to these threats. Any emails or links that look even slightly suspicious need to be scrutinized closely. Thankfully, there are a number of telltale signs that can quickly be checked to verify the integrity of anything unusual. However, the most sensible action is, if possible, to double check with an IT professional. Malwarebytes is our preferred way to keep your home system safe.
- Work with Your IT Team: IT is crucial to any modern business, so you can rest assured that there will be an IT presence in place while you are working. It’s important that you run any queries by them as you would if you were working in the office. This will ensure that normal IT operations can be maintained and you can remain safe.
For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.
