Working safely from home gives you flexibility and comfort, and protection against risks such as phishing, unsecured networks and theft.
Imagine You're working comfortably from home, with coffee beside you and soft music in the background. Until you discover that a hacker has gained access to your company data. Confidential client information and sensitive documents are exposed.
Scenarios like this aren't unthinkable now that working from home is becoming more and more common. How do you prevent your home office from becoming a gateway for cybercriminals?
Without an office's protected networks, you depend on your own internet connection and devices. That increases the risk of:
At the office you work on a well-secured, professionally managed network, with automatic updates and clear agreements. At home that central security is missing and you depend on your own equipment and settings. On top of that, housemates often use the same network.
Protect your Wi-Fi with a strong password, not something like "123456". Use WPA3 security to make breaking in as hard as possible.
Use unique, complex passwords and store them in a password manager such as 1Password. Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible.
Outdated software is one of the biggest entry points for malware. Keep everything up to date: your Apple devices, software such as Office, but also the smart devices at home that are on your Wi-Fi.
Install reliable anti-malware on all your devices. Yes, on your Mac too.
Watch out Has your employer already installed anti-malware? Then don't install a second one. Duplicate anti-malware is useless and can even get in each other's way.
Always check emails for suspicious links, attachments and senders. Don't just click a link, and don't open attachments from unknown senders.
Lock your Mac, iPad or iPhone when you're not using it, set up automatic locking, choose a strong passcode and turn on Apple's built-in protection features.
Working safely from home is a responsibility shared by employer and employee. As an employer, you make employees aware of the risks and give them the right tools, such as security software, a secure connection and regular training.
In short
At home you miss the central security of the office network Secure your Wi-Fi, use a password manager and install updates Employer and employee share the responsibility
The information in this article is intended as general knowledge about using Apple products in a professional environment. Your organisation may have its own policies that restrict certain features or software. Always consult your organisation's IT policy before changing anything on company hardware or software.
