IT Support Tips Can Benefit If Working Remotely

EM Admin
Aug 2, 2022
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Since the outbreak of pandemic COVID-19, corporate society is forced to work from home. A survey on SMEs in Pennsylvania was conducted by PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (via WESA), which showed that 79% of entrepreneurs adapted to the digital environment, wherein 33% added work-from-home policies for their workforce.

This adaptability is not easy. Various organizations have started realizing that they need seamless support round the clock. This is where remote IT support via outsourcing emerged as the best shelter to end up struggling with network, server, or data security management.

Why Do You Need IT Support?

IT Support

Let’s get through the top remote IT security challenges that many businesses face.

Common IT Challenges for All Businesses

Remote IT Security Risks for All Businesses

Working from home or anywhere does not guarantee the safety of the network. There may lurk security threats. Even if there is no remote employee, the devices like smartphones and laptops can be a reason for hacking attempts.

Here are some IT security risks that actually require a serious concern from a specialist. These hacks can help you not to face IT support problems during working from home.

Ineffective Management

A company has employees, IT infrastructure, assets, networks, and multiple connected devices. These devices and people need proper management. Everything requires a system to run accordingly. Employees should know what devices they use individually. It helps you not to face IT problems due to remote working.

So here, an updated inventory of devices, users’ accounts, and their credentials database can really prove handy in monitoring everything safely.

Insecure Passwords

Covering your account with just a password is not enough. It can be discovered by hackers. Here, an agile IT system can help in regulating the monitoring of all regular users. The experienced IT person covers it with the power of forced password changes. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t follow this simple step.

Phishing Attack

Fraudsters specialize in phishing. They fool people by sharing a malicious email that carries a link to hack users’ accounts and get their sensitive details like passwords, credit card or banking details, and more. There were 384,291 attacks recorded in March 2022, which covered banks. It accounted for 23.6 % of all phishing attacks registered, as per the APWG’s Phishing Activity Trends Report.

Work on Insecure Devices & Networks

An organization has multiple full-time employees and partners who use laptops, systems, smartphones, and tablets. Working from home tends to attract vulnerability because of remote connections. Many employees use unsecured operating systems and networks. This is a major concern and a big reason for hacking.

Unprotected Video Conferences

There are multiple platforms like Google FaceTime & Zoom that people prefer for remote conferences and meetings.

Researchers have revealed that zoom became a victim ofphishing attacks on 25th August 2022. It is a major North American online brokerage company whose Microsoft credentials were hijacked. Here, protection and precautions are a must-have.

Unsystematic Backup and Recovery System

Backups & recovery systems can eliminate the biggest disasters, provided that they are reliable and protected. Many organizations don’t focus on regulating backups. Moreover, many companies don’t bother about possessing a recovery system.

Here, an experienced managed IT supportoutsourcing company can help you to schedule proactive maintenance of all connections and connected devices for ensuring the security of sensitive information.

Best Remote IT Practices for Businesses

Let’s catch up with the roundup of the best of these IT security practices for smooth or problem-free remote working.

Shift to the Cloud

Cloud is the safest of all storage. The applications here, like Office 365 and QuickBooks Online come up with round o’clock access features. The sweet spot is that it automatically updates security features. You don’t have to focus on compliance, as it follows industry regulations.

Connect via VPNs

VPNs are virtual public networks. They hide your location, as a firewall does. This quality makes it stand apart. People find it a really effective tool for remote workers. This network allows them to work in a protected environment from distance. Employees can enjoy the similar security, functionality, and appearance as a company provides onsite.

Layered Authentication

Layered authentication refers to an information security management technique. It requires a person to be verified multiple times through layered authentication. It can be through contact numbers, email IDs, Google accounts, etc.

Hackers don’t like it because it seems a practice with a ton of problems. This process requires a code to securely enter the network or account. If it happens twice or thrice, people rather prefer not to opt for it. However, it’s the most secure and remarkable remote IT securitysupport.

Execute BYOD/ MDM Policies

Bring your own device or BYOD policy together with a mobile device management (MDM) policy can protect your organization from a series of hacking attempts or cyber-attacks.

Use Password Managers

These are tools to protect credentials like passwords. It lets you secure passwords safely. You may choose the best password manager for securing your credentials over the internet. Here are some clues to choose from:

Password
Zoho Vault
LastPass
Blur
Sticky Password

Train Your Employees

Remote employees appear the weakest point when it comes to fooling and taking away sensitive information.

So, educate them about the types of malicious attempts, and how to protect data and credentials from them.

The company staff often thinks that it’s a company’s responsibility to provide a secure digital environment outside the office. It’s actually the fact. They stand in the front row to defend your devices from remote cybersecurity attacks.

Update Your Software

No matter if the employee is using his own device or the company’s laptop. It’s a must to run all updates. Every update comes up with a patch, which refers to an improvement in the previous version. This improvement can be concerned with its stability, security measures, and improving features.

For this, activation is required. Ensure you have activated automatic updates on all devices.

Secure Video Meets & Conferences

This is specifically for Zoom meetings, which can be secured through these steps:

Prefer paid accounts over unpaid accounts for accessing advanced security features.
Ensure your ID and password for calls are unique.
Prevent people from a joint call by creating a waiting room unexpectedly
Let the host be the only sharer of the screen.
Make sure that you have locked the meeting once it begins.
Check for Phishing Emails

Closely monitor suspicious emails. Educate your employees to avoid clicking any malicious link given in an email that has a non-meaningful name or faux name of a brand.

Hire an outsourcing professional for taking security measures to set up a defensive layer against phishing. Besides, make them aware of these attempts. It can help you overcome problems while working from home or anywhere.

Stick to Strong Passwords

Think about unique passwords. Avoid such words that can be easily guessed. Keep it a mix of different characters like #, $, %, or others.

Avoid Publicly Available Wireless Networks

Public networks have easily accessible passwords that anyone can guess and access. These are unsecured networks that allow anyone to use them. So, always avoid using such networks that are available in coffee shops, or street areas. They are unprotected, mostly.

Conclusion

If you face an IT problem while working from home, rely on a private and fully secure network. However, hiring an outsourcing company can be the best decision. But, you may follow some guidelines and tips like using strong passwords, going for layered authentication, avoiding publicly available wireless networks, etc.

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IT Consultant