Remote work has become a very popular option. Thanks to technological advancements, remote work helps employees stay connected and productive even outside the office.

These technologies are more essential than ever in the era of digital transformation. As people want to take control of their own lives after seeing how Covid changed everything, remote work is no longer just an option, it’s a necessity.

The new work environment brings many new challenges, including how to protect sensitive data. Without the security measures that come with office work, remote work presents a number of security vulnerabilities. Therefore, information security must be a top priority. The last thing you need as a company is a data breach. That’s what we’ll explore in detail here.

The development of data security for remote work

Since remote work is a paradise for most of us — and companies had to make it a reality — very innovative methods have been implemented.

Some of these methods are:

    • Data security in remote working: There are various methods for this, such as password management tools that store passwords securely, and remote desktops, which allow users to work on a company-controlled desktop that remains accessible to the business and is protected from attacks, since all activity on it can be monitored and managed.

    • Secure data transfer in the home office: Various tools are also used here, such as apps that can store data like Google Drive and communication tools that are connected to and managed by the company. This falls under cloud security in remote work, and the drive is protected through access control and security tools.

Why is encryption important when working remotely?

Encryption is very important because it protects sensitive data, something that is absolutely essential in any workplace. But what is encryption, and where is it used? For example, in the encryption of data transfer in the home office, in cloud-based services such as Google, and also in WhatsApp and Telegram.

With encryption, data is encoded so that anyone who wants to view it must first decrypt it to use it. This is difficult because no one knows how the data was encrypted. This leads to cloud security in remote work and therefore ensures the protection of your data.

What are best practices for data security in remote working environments?

There are various methods for ensuring data security in the home office, and you can apply a whole range of them. Here are a few examples:

    1. VPN for secure data transfer: A VPN masks your online data traffic and hides your IP address. It also protects against external access by encrypting internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers to read your data.

    1. Home office compliance (GDPR): In this case, you must ensure that you do not store sensitive customer data on your PC without security measures. In fact, it’s best not to store it locally at all — instead, keep it in a secure cloud. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is an extremely important law. Non-compliance can cause major problems for companies, with fines of up to 22 million euros for violations.

    1. Two-factor authentication for the home office: This is another way to ensure that all applications used in your home office are secure. Two-factor authentication means that every application includes a second security step — hence the “two” — when logging into your apps. This ensures that not just anyone can sign in, since the second verification method is only accessible through your personal devices, such as your phone or email address.

    1. Firewall protection for remote work: Every computer used for remote work should have firewall protection. This helps guarantee data security in remote work, as firewalls provide protection against cyberattacks. They prevent malicious software and harmful network traffic from reaching your computer.

    1. Cloud security in remote work: As mentioned earlier, all your sensitive data should be stored in your company’s protected cloud environment.

    1. Data access: To ensure data access in the home office is safe and controlled, all platforms, applications, and data should be subject to strict access control. Only specific individuals should have access to certain folders or platform functions, depending on their role.

Security risks in remote working and Zeitarbeit International

There are a few risks, but as long as you make sure to implement proper data security measures in remote work, everything will be fine. Many of our employees work from the home office without any issues. Zeitarbeit International can advise you on this. We have extensive experience with remote work and data security in remote working and will help you set up the correct configuration for your company. Contact us today!