Even when working at home, you should take steps to ensure that your business is protected. After all, any risk to where you live now also endangers your livelihood. Here, we’re not going to look at just the things that would normally be a risk to your home, but also the specific risks you should consider when running a business from your own house or apartment.
Have the right protective software installed
First of all, it might seem like basic cybersecurity 101, but there is no overstating the importance of having a premium anti-malware software package installed on your device. You might think that you’ll do just fine with a free package, but that’s not the case. When you pay, you’re paying for quicker updates, ensuring that your devices aren’t vulnerable to the latest threats out there.
Don’t use public networks for anything you wouldn’t want to share
Many of the most common mistakes in cybersecurity are not down to which tools you do or don’t use to protect your devices and data, but rather simple human error. This includes poor password management and falling for phishing scams. Most web savvy business owners are familiar with these risks, but an increasing danger is that of using public networks to do your work. Simply put, it’s incredibly easy for hackers to use these public networks to infiltrate your systems and spy on your work. Only use devices that have no sensitive data on them and only use them on public networks if you have literally no problem with your activity being seen by just about anyone.
Know what your most precious data is and how you’re going to protect it
It is important to take the time to identify what your sensitive data is. Legal contracts, financial details, and any customer or client information should be top of that list. If there are any resources or assets that need to be kept confidential, then you should consider looking for the best virtual data room around. Not only does it keep your most important assets behind a secured, off-site server, but it also offers some back-up, so if you lose the originals, you have the copies that you can download again.
Look after the devices that you do your work on
You’re still likely to keep some data on your own devices, but there is always a potential of them being stolen. This is especially true of mobile devices like laptops and tablets. It may be an essential business expense to invest in theft recovery software or hardware, such as tracking devices, that use GPS signals to help you find and get back any digital devices that have valuable data on them. There’s no guarantee they will get the job done, but it offers some protection, at least.
Even basic security provisions for the home can offer a big difference. At the very least, it can offer you the peace of mind, but it also establishes a certain professionalism in your standards that can quickly help you win over your clients.