If you’re like many people, you’ve had to move to working from home since the global pandemic started. However, now as the health crisis slowly starts to get under control, you may be thinking of making the home-based work situation a more permanent, long-term setup. There are many upsides to not commuting into an office, such as time savings, flexibility, and increased productivity.

But there are some downsides to contend with, too. In particular, remote work means we’re doing all our tasks online but don’t have the same IT support we’re used to in the office. With hackers in their glee as millions more people working remotely, it’s never been more important to protect business data from prying eyes. Take steps to secure information when you work remotely.

Install Quality Security Software

We must use security software to protect our devices and accounts anyway, but this is even more imperative when we work from home. Avoid becoming a hacking victim by purchasing quality security software that protects against multiple threats. For instance, the product you use should cover viruses, spyware, spam, ransomware, and other malware.

Plus, choose an option that includes cloud security, so there’s less chance of issues with data stored in the cloud. Select a product that protects your privacy when you browse and buy online, too, and that sends you real-time threat alerts.

Furthermore, utilize a firewall. These programs act as an extra layer of defense against cybercriminals, especially when they attempt to break in via the internet. Before you buy one, check to see if your computer already has a firewall installed on it. Developers tend to add them to most devices nowadays. However, you may need to activate the program for it to do its job.

Password Protect Devices and Accounts

Take the time to password-protect all your devices and accounts. Your computer, smartphone, and tablet, along with your modem, should have hard-to-crack codes installed on them so people can’t access them unless you permit them to. Use quality passwords on your email account and any other accounts you log into, and programs such as security software and software-as-a-source products you use via third-party vendors.

Codes should be eight or more characters long and made up of a mixture of numbers, symbols, and upper and lower-case letters. Choose passwords that have nothing to do with details you share publicly, too, such as pet or child names, birth date, lucky numbers, or favorite film.

Plus, create different codes for different devices and accounts, so if one ever gets compromised, they won’t all fall like dominoes. If you struggle to remember passwords without writing them down (which isn’t secure), utilize a password manager to keep track of them all.

Update Software to Latest Versions

Update all the software programs you use digitally to the latest versions as soon as new options become available. Developers update their programs for multiple reasons, including when they discover security gaps that hackers might or have taken advantage of. As such, you need to install the most recent versions to reduce security risks.

Pay attention to update alerts that pop up on your screen. Update upgrades for your operating system, security software and firewalls, browsers, modem, printer, apps, plugins, games, and the like. To ensure you don’t forget to do this vital job, set up updates to automatically install once they come out.

Keep Work Data Separate from Personal

When working remotely, you might have other people in your household attempting to use your devices sometimes, such as your partner, children, or flatmates. Allowing others access can be tricky, though, especially kids who likely don’t know all the ins and outs of keeping data secure. Wherever possible, try to keep your work information and gadgets separate from personal use.

If you can, buy a separate computer for your family to use when they need it, so they don’t have to borrow yours. This will reduce the chances that someone else accidentally does something to expose your work to hackers, such as clicking on dodgy links, opening virus-ridden attachments, or inserting infected USBs.

Back Up Company Data

It’s a good idea to secure business information by backing up data daily. Each time you create or change a document, update the company website, take note of client meetings, develop presentations, etc., ensure the information gets backed up to the cloud or another external source. Then, if details are ever accidentally deleted or systems or data crashed or stolen, you have a copy of information stored safely offsite.

Taking each of these steps takes a little bit of time and effort but will save you much of both later. Hackers are rife and always looking for easy ways to get into systems, especially organizational ones. Don’t make their job easy for them!