Remote work is now a norm across industries, but it comes with a significantly expanded attack surface. With employees accessing systems from multiple locations—often on personal devices and home networks—the risks of data breaches, phishing attacks, and unauthorized access grow exponentially.

Mitigating these risks requires a multi-layered approach. Both individuals and organizations need to adopt proactive security practices to maintain a resilient remote work setup.

Securing Home Networks and Personal Devices

One of the most critical steps is securing the home environment—both the network and the devices used to access corporate resources.

Home Network Security:

• Strong, Unique Passwords: Change default router credentials to strong, unique ones.

• Network Encryption: Enable WPA3 encryption to safeguard data transmissions.

• Firmware Updates: Regularly update router and modem firmware to fix known vulnerabilities.

Personal Device Protection:

• Antivirus Software: Use reputable antivirus tools to detect and block threats.

• OS and App Updates: Keep systems and applications up to date to close security gaps.

• Firewalls: Use device-level or software firewalls to control traffic and prevent intrusions.

Example: An employee running an outdated OS may inadvertently expose sensitive data. Ensuring timely updates helps mitigate such vulnerabilities.

Implementing Strong Authentication for Remote Access

Verifying who’s accessing your systems is just as important as protecting the devices they use.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds a second (or third) verification layer, such as a time-based code or biometric scan.

• Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Encrypt all traffic between remote users and company systems, shielding it from prying eyes.

Case in point: A U.S. company once fell victim to a scam where a North Korean IT worker accessed internal systems under false pretenses. Stronger identity checks and VPN enforcement might have prevented the breach.

Training Employees on Remote Security Best Practices

Even the best security tools are ineffective without employee awareness and engagement.

• Ongoing Security Training: Teach staff to spot phishing attempts, create secure passwords, and avoid social engineering.

• Clear Usage Policies: Outline acceptable behaviors for accessing and managing company resources.

• Simulated Phishing Campaigns: Test employee responses in a controlled environment to find and fix weak spots.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a great time to highlight remote work threats and refresh best practices.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay—So Is the Risk. ShiftControl Helps

ShiftControl is built with the modern remote workforce in mind, offering tools that make secure work simple and scalable.

• Secure Sign-In: SSO integrations and an advanced password manager ensure secure, user-friendly access.

• Employee Portal: A clean interface empowers users to manage their identity and settings independently.

• Smart Dashboard: Streamlines onboarding, offboarding, and user management, reducing risk without adding complexity.

By equipping your remote teams with ShiftControl, you’re not just enabling productivity—you’re building a strong foundation for secure, distributed work.