Remote Work Tech Tip: Are You Using A Virtual Private Network?

Remote Work Tech Tip: Are You Using A Virtual Private Network?

Managing your remote staff during the coronavirus pandemic means more than keeping them productive – they have to be secure as well. Do you know how to maintain your business’ cybersecurity as your employees connect to data remotely?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues day by day, it becomes more and more important for everyone to do their part in helping to limit its spread by practicing “social distancing.” This means staying out of the office and working from home.

However, when businesses start prioritizing remote access to data over the security of that data, they make an easy target for hackers. Multiple unsecured and unmanaged connections from employee networks to your business data brings on several risks.

Do you know how to manage your business’ cybersecurity while your staff works from home? Check out our latest video to learn all about Virtual Private Networks:

How Does A VPN Work?

A VPN creates a secure tunnel for your data to transit the Internet, using a network of private servers. When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted, or hidden, as it moves from your device to the VPN and then continues onto the Internet through what’s called an exit node. A VPN creates the appearance that your data is coming from the VPN server, not from your device.

Therefore, it’s harder for an attacker to identify you as the source of the data. Even if attackers can intercept your data, the encryption means the attackers can’t understand your data or use it to their advantage. When you put your data out to the VPN server, it exits back out to the public internet. If the site you’re visiting has HTTPS to keep the connection safe, you are still secure.

But even if a third party intercepted it, it’s challenging for the outside party to trace the data back to you, since it appears to be coming from a VPN server.

However, a VPN shouldn’t be deployed on its own. Two-factor authentication (2FA) helps you protect your identity and accounts. More and more organizations are using it for its security and ease-of-use. 2FA requires the user to utilize two methods to confirm that they are the rightful account owner. Biometrics like fingerprints, voice, or even iris scans are also options, as are physical objects like keycards.

By requiring a second piece of information like a randomly-generated numerical code sent by text message, you’re better able to ensure that the person using your employee’s login credentials is actually who they say they are. Without 2FA enabled, if an employee’s VPN credentials are stolen, a bad actor could have unrestricted access to corporate data. That’s why VPNs need to integrate with 2FA solutions.

Don’t sacrifice your cybersecurity just so your staff can work from home. With the right technologies and processes in place, you can maintain a productive and secure remote work model throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

If you’re worried about your remote security, especially when it comes to the VPN you have in place at your business, then don’t try to handle it all on your own. The Centerpoint IT team will help you evaluate your security measures as a whole to make sure you’re not taking on any unnecessary risks.

Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:

Keeping Our Clients Connected During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Coronavirus: The Human Virus’s Impact on Tech Businesses and More

Seven Things You Need To Know About Cloud Computing