More and more people are switching to home offices due to the Corona pandemic. As soon as all home office functions have been properly set up, you think to yourself - "Wow…  isn’t it a dream?”. Home Office gives you not only more flexibility… You could also make yourself comfortable on the couch and even do your housework during the coffee break in between! Nevertheless, especially at home you have to follow more rules to prevent the dream from turning into a nightmare, because from now you have to devote additional attention to IT security.

Many companies are struggling to survive on the market, and if a hacker attack is added to this, their existence will hardly be saved. Because as fast as the corona virus is spreading, cyberattacks are increasing in parallel. The cybercriminals are using the corona pandemic to spread fear and insecurity among people and to make profit. Whether phishing mails with malicious software, fake news or in the case of counterfeit products, the actual danger behind it will usually be difficult to detect.

At these times, security rules are of the highest importance than ever: 

1. WLAN
   First and foremost, the home network must be protected. For business purposes the WLAN should only be used on VPN (Virtual Private Network) basis and with company hardware. To eliminate potential security risks from the outset, business data should never be exchanged with colleagues or customers via public service providers such as Dropbox, etc. Even if the data rate of the encrypted VPN is slower, you should stick to the golden rules of the PC security world.
    
2. Security programs
   All enterprise devices should be protected by up-to-date security programs. The IT department or the IT administrator is responsible for all installations and for checking the devices for being up-to-date. If the IT equipment give the slightest cause for concern, the IT department must be informed immediately.
    
3. Updates
   Most security vulnerabilities are covered by the latest updates, so it is extremely important to check the devices for the latest updates as soon as possible when setting up the home office.
    
4. Passwords
   Choose strong passwords with sufficient length. Although regular password changes are not recommended, a weak password on the router at home, for example, should be replaced immediately with a strong one when starting work in the home office. Use tested password managers to keep passwords safe and simple. Role-based password managers such as PassSecurium  are perfect for storing passwords of your company in a structured manner for different user groups with appropriate authorization and convenient management.
    
5. Two-factor authentication
   For additional protection of all your data, two-factor authentication (2FA) is an excellent choice. This means that a second password or code is assigned to each account, which virtually eliminates the risk of cyberattack. Use also our AccessSecurium free of charge: Google Play or App Store.
    
6. Encryption
   All your data should be encrypted with end-to-end encryption. This is the only way to give your data an additional level of security in case of device loss or hacker attack.
    
7. E-mails
   Currently, the tendency for phishing e-mails is increasing. Pay attention to the sender, spelling mistakes, missing names and a mail header that is forgery-proof and provides information about the actual sender. You should pay particular attention if personal data is requested, if there is an allegedly urgent need for action and if the e-mail contains a link or attachment. File attachments may contain Trojans, and opening them will infect your device.
    
8. Communication and data exchange
   Free services, such as public clouds for communication or data exchange, are only suitable for private purposes. If you do not want sensitive information to reach third parties, it is essential to invest in effective protection to avoid subsequent damage and the high costs that this entails. We therefore recommend our encrypted all-in-one platform for tap-proof business communication and protected data exchange, which you can test free of charge for the first month with a demo account: platform.swiss-securium.ch/en
    
9. Screen lock
   The screen lock should also be activated on all work devices in the home office. An accidental push of a button, e.g. by your child, can be enough to cause a data loss.
    
10. Stay up-to-date
    The biggest risk factor in the IT world is people! The most important thing now is to stay up to date. Apply the same rules at home as in the company, never install the programs by yourself on the work computers, avoid opening different attachments or clicking on suspicious links. If you are unsure about any actions, it is best to seek advice from your IT colleagues!

Are you interested in a secure home office? We offer 20% discount on our remote desktop called "DeskSecurium". Convince yourself of the effectiveness and high flexibility of our Swiss product. Request a demo account by e-mail and test it for one week for FREE: contact@alpeinsoft.ch

Stay healthy and safe in your home office!

Your ALPEIN Software Team