Our top tips on improving security for the new remote workplace

Having been forced to implement quick changes to the way we previously worked due the current pandemic, many businesses managed security in the moment. To ensure workforces were enabled to work remotely, network security became a secondary thought for many in the rush to get staff set up and safe at home. We are now realising after successfully operating outside of an office environment, that keeping a remote workforce post pandemic will provide a number of benefits to organisations - from flexible working and a boost in performance, to cost savings on overheads and travel expenses. 

With the likelihood that your business will look to remote working as a more permanent setup, now is the time to revisit your IT security to ensure your remote workforce are working without exposing your business to potential security risks. Take these next steps for your IT security as we move forward in our new ways of working.

1) Understand your position

It's never too late. Now is the time to perform a review of your endpoint and performance checks on all your devices. Your cloud tenant and internal network needs to be reviewed and adjusted if necessary. Your remote workers may be using systems differently too, so it's worth checking that your security settings and measures offer the protection required for your new style of working and, think about what your future usage might look like – scaling up or down where necessary.

2) Who is using what?

Not all staff will have been in the position to shift all their kit from the office to home and some may be using or switching between your devices and their own. This demands extra security controls, even down to basic antivirus, across your now extended network.

3) Don’t forget your staff

Your initial focus when moving staff from your office to their homes was likely to have been ensuring a smooth, fast transition and then, their productivity. Your team have always been a key part to your security strategy and now they are more so than ever. With cyber-attacks adapting and becoming more advanced, now is the time to identify any training needs and ensure your team are proficient in identifying and avoiding the latest security threats.

Furthermore, whilst away from the office your staff might find different tools to help them in their roles and these may no longer be limited to those that your IT team have approved. Your staff may need to be reminded of the risks of using unauthorised tools and this needs to be monitored.

4) Stay one step ahead

Your IT security must remain top of your priorities and this is true with both remote and office based workforces. There are several tools that will help you ensure your network is as secure as it can be and minimise the risk of attack. However, this threat is consistently adapting and so must the methods used to protect against them. Prevention, monitoring and testing are key to ensuring you have the right level of protection in place and there are many different tools to help.

An experienced IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) will be best placed to help you in protecting your network with a multi-layered approach to your security and will work with you and your team to ensure your IT security strategy is right for your business now and in the future, starting with a full IT review. By working with an experienced provider, such as MSP in London, who can also provide IT support for your business, any issues can be handled and resolved quickly by a highly skilled member of their team to take the stress away and allow your business to remain productive.

If you would like to know more about IT security for your business, contact the experts at ITRM for a free IT review and consultation to understand any security weaknesses that could be exposing your business.

And if your business plans to operate with a hybrid approach, download our return to the office planning guide and get ahead!