iQuanti: The pandemic has shifted many things, including the way we work. With remote working and distributed workforces more common than ever before, an important concern raised is cybersecurity.

With some organizations returning to the office and others adopting a permanent online strategy, security awareness training models have needed to remain agile. With the right training, it is possible to keep your business and employees safe despite remote working, and it is possible to take your cybersecurity training remote, though it might look a little different than normal. 

1. An Employee Refresher

The first step to taking your cybersecurity training online is to remind your employees why it's important to care and to be vigilant. Because anyone within an organization can be susceptible to a cyberattack, which may be as simple as opening an attachment, it's important to have employees at all levels involved and ensure they are aware of best practices.

2. Adopt a Security Code

If your organization is one that deals with secure information, you may consider password verifications for email communications. While not completely fail-proof, it is an extra layer of security that might help the receiver see that something is awry if the security code is wrong or not given according to protocol. While this might not be necessary for lower-level employees, executives might benefit from the verification.

3. Invest in Additional Security Measures

Before it's too late, invest in quality security measures. This can include proper training from those in cybersecurity, putting together a top-notch IT department that can monitor network behavior and quickly jump on any issue that arises, as well as investing in your cybersecurity tech stack.

4. Limit Company Networks and Devices to Work-Related Activities

It's surprising how easy it is for an online shopping link or Facebook ad to have malware on it that can compromise a device or network.

In limiting your employees to only using company tech for work-related actions, you effectively minimize the risk of exposure to debilitating malware.

5. Encourage Employees to Refrain from Public Wi-Fi

Similar to the above tip for restricting employee use of company devices to work, the same should go for everyone's Wi-Fi options. Public Wi-Fi is especially susceptible to hackers, but so are home networks with weak security and default settings.

When dispersing your workforce and asking them to work remotely, investing in strong connectors, such as a virtual private network, or VPN, can be worth the money in the end as it adds an additional level of protection. 

The Bottom Line

Protecting your company from cyberattacks is very important for your overall business. While it can be scary to spread your workforce, it is possible to preserve your virtual health. A little investment in security awareness training can have a huge return in the end.