As more people work from home, maintaining proper cybersecurity has become an individual task. Through various means, criminals will attempt to gain access to your company’s sensitive information and documents. Follow these steps to ensure a productive and safe home office.  

How to Prevent Data Breaches While Working From Home 

1. Update Your Passwords 

Your company may have established protocols involving passwords. For instance, they might have you change them quarterly. When selecting a new password, make sure it’s unique. It should be at least 12 characters long, mixing in capital and lower case letters, along with numbers and symbols. 

You can also use a password manager, which will work with all of your devices, including laptops, personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. The password manager will generate a randomized and secure password for you that will also be stored. Avoid using the same password for every program, and do not write down a list of login credentials. While these seem convenient, they can affect your security.

2. Use Work Devices

Your company likely provided you with devices to work from home, which will already have security features installed. Use them rather than your home devices. While your personal equipment may have some measure of protection, they may not provide adequate security when you’re accessing sensitive company documents. This leaves your work information vulnerable to criminals. 

3. Secure Your Network

However, there are steps you can take to increase the security of your home devices. Using a virtual private network (VPN) will allow you to change your IP address and make it look like it’s in another location. VPNs add a layer of encryption to your devices, ensuring whatever you access is secure from hackers and criminals who are attempting to break into your company’s network. 

Among the most popular and reliable VPNs on the market are ExpressVPN®, Surfshark®, and NordVPN®. 

Whether you’re working from home or you’re back at the office, you can rely on Communications Deployment Partners for your commercial cyber security needs. They have over 13 years of experience in protecting the computer networks of their clients. They stay up-to-date on the latest technological developments and potential threats to provide the safety your business needs. If you’re in the Ambler, PA, area, reach out to them at (215) 343-5580. For more information on their comprehensive IT services, visit their website.