In the past few years, more and more businesses have embraced the power and convenience of remote work. Recent studies show that 82 percent of the people who work from home report lower stress levels. Generally, home-based business owners are more productive and have far less overhead.
One of the biggest problems you will face when working from home is keeping attackers at bay. Failing to use the latest cybersecurity and home office backup solutions will put your sensitive information at risk.
Are you looking for ways to increase the security your home-based business has? If so, check out the helpful tips below.
1. Encrypting Your Emails is a Good Idea
If you are like most business owners, you commonly communicate with your team and customers via email. Most people prefer to communicate through emails due to how quick and professional it is. What most people fail to realize is that attackers can intercept your emails and use the information in them to infiltrate their network.
The best way to keep this from happening is by encrypting all of your emails. Investing in email encryption software will allow you to mask all of the sensitive information in them and keep attackers at bay. If you are unsure about how to accomplish this task, you need to consult an IT professional. They will be able to give you a crash course in what you need to use to encrypt all of your cyber-communications.
2. Two-Factor Authentication Can Be Helpful
Do you use a variety of different programs on your computer each day? If so, chances are you have usernames and password combos for each one. While having a unique password can help keep cyber-security levels high, you may also want to think about using two-factor authentication on all of these programs. Some people make the mistake of using the same password on all of their logins, which makes it much easier for cyber-criminals to figure them out.
Generally, the two-factor authentication will require you to use your cell phone. By taking advantage of this tool, you can log in to a program using your phone with a specialized code sent out by the program in question. Using this tool is a great way to avoid getting hacked and provides you with a higher degree of control regarding who can log in to your programs.
3. Invest in a Cloud-Based Data Backup
Some home-based business owners have a false sense of security when it comes to the reliability of the technology they have in place. While modern technology is reliable, it is not without issues from time to time. Preparing for the worst-case scenario when it comes to your computer network is essential when trying to avoid lulls in productivity.
One of the best things you can do to avoid shutting down following a data hack or network crash is to invest in a cloud-based backup system. Having all of your files backed up will allow you to get back to work following one of these disasters. When choosing a backup provider, be sure to pay close attention to the security measures they have in place.
4. You Need Antivirus Software
Opening an email from an unknown sender or visiting the wrong website can lead to your computer being infected with a virus. Some viruses can do a lot of damage, which means your network will be brought to its knees. Investing in state-of-the-art virus-scan software can help you combat these issues head-on. Finding a program that is both effective and easy to use can help you avoid data hacks.
The time and effort you put into bulking up your home office’s cyber-security will definitely pay off in the long run.
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