Five Ways To Keep Your Remote Business Safe From Hackers

As more people work from home, you could be exposing yourself to viruses and other online dangers that may put your business at risk. To protect your business, follow these five tips from tech coach Burton Kelso, owner of Integral in Kansas City Mo.

1. Ensure strong internet and Wi-Fi connections. Check your internet speed at speedtest.net. Download speeds lower than 30 mbps could lead to problems accessing an office’s virtual private network, cloud storage service, or videoconference calls. To increase Wi-Fi speeds at home, consider add-ons like Google’s Wi-Fi “mesh” router system, which can blanket an area with a stronger signal, or TP-Link’s Powerline adapter system, which turns the electrical wiring inside walls into an Ethernet network.

2. Set up automatic data backup. Use a cloud-based product to protect your business from data loss, using such companies as Carbonite or BackBlaze (both cost about $83 a year). For Apple devices, you can use iCloud. Google Drive and Google Photos offer cloud services for PCs, Android, and Apple devices.

3. Be on guard for phishing scams. The majority of cybersecurity attacks require user interaction—that is, you must click on fraudulent links. In a remote setting, it’s harder to rely on an IT department’s safety net. Phishing scams, where malevolent URLs are disguised with benign text, are the most common type of attack.

4. Use strong passwords. Consider using passphrases for your passwords. Passphrases are unrelated words that you string together to create a password (e.g., “YellowOctopus” or “StuffyTar”). Add numbers and special characters to make them even stronger. Change passwords immediately if you suspect a breach.

5. Check the security of your information. In some ways, you are a public figure. Your name and face are your brand. That makes it easier for cybercriminals to steal your information.

*Courtesy of Realtor Magazine