As a result of current events worldwide, we are seeing businesses shifting their working practices and implementing remote-working as a social distancing measure.

Whilst in our tech- focussed day and age, remote-working is a widely adopted strategy and many of us can continue working from home as normal, it does come with its concerns – particularly surrounding cyber security.

If you’re working remotely, check our cyber security top tips below:

1. Log on to a secure site (https)

To maintain security of any data you may input into websites, make sure that you are using a secure site. You can check this by looking for “https” at the beginning of the URL and ensuring that you close the lock icon in your browser.

2. Phishing Emails

When you are working away from home, phishing emails may be a convincing avenue for cybercriminals to exploit. Make sure that you have a prior agreement with colleagues over what information will be shared via email, so that you can identify concerns easily. Alongside this, be vigilant as to the attachments you open and password protect any confidential documents.

3. Secure your Wi-Fi connection

Using a secure Wi-Fi connection is vital when working from home. Always try to ensure you are working on a secure connection and avoid public Wi-Fi where possible. If you haven’t changed your router password since it was installed, then now could be a good time to do so!

4. Lock your device

Though it may seem self-explanatory, if you are opting for a change of scenery, working in public spaces or anywhere other people could access your PC, making sure your device is locked when unattended is best practice. So, if you don’t already, now’s a good time to start!

5. Use a VPN connection

If your company has a VPN (Virtual Private Network) it is important that you use it. A VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic, so it is unreadable for anyone who intercepts it, making it invisible to unauthorised eyes.

Recent measures aside, ensuring the security of your work-from-home setup is great preparation for the evolution of business in the technological age.  If this is something that fascinates you, check out our courses!


Are you interested in learning more about Cyber Security?

There are a number of cyber security Masters Qualifications to help expand your knowledge and take you to the next level in your career. Here are a few options:

For the career starter: MSc Cyber Security with Advanced Practice, with work placement/project embedded into course.

For the cyber professional who’s looking to get qualified: MSc Cyber Security (Full-Time) or MSc Cyber Security (Part-Time) – depending on your schedule.

For the career changer: MSc Cyber Security Technology is designed specifically for those newer to the field.

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