How to Train Remote Working Employees on Cybersecurity | #hrmanagement #hrexecutive

COVID-19 has made us all work from the comfort of our homes. Working in your pajamas is fun, but it is not a wise option for businesses looking to safeguard their data. According to a survey by Varonis, 64% of Americans do not know how to handle a data breach. 

And, well. Till 2019 people were working from their offices so, businesses never bothered to train them in cybersecurity. Hackers, breaches, data safety and encryption never made an employee’s list of concerns.

But, now, it has become mandatory to train remote working employees on cybersecurity. So, we are going over seven remote working tips for employees so that they can help keep your business safe.

1. Don’t complicate cybersecurity for your employees.

There is no need to imitate your boring history teacher whose lectures never made it to your head because he used to teach them in a complicated manner. Please keep it simple. It is okay if they do not understand phishing, SSL encryption and firewalls. Your employees are no tech fanatics. Teach them like you are teaching students.

Train them on how to take action against cyberattacks instead of who invented cybersecurity. The easier you make it for your employees, the better they will grasp. 

2. Teach them about the importance of SSL certificates

SSL or Secure Socket Layer certificates are security protocols used to encrypt a website’s connection through Public Key Infrastructure. SSL prevents cybercriminals from intercepting data transferred between your website’s server and the user’s web browser. 

SSL is necessary if you want to communicate sensitive information to your customers. In addition, it helps comply with PCI/DSS guidelines allowing you to accept payments online. But the question is: why do you need your employees to know about SSL?

An SSL encrypted website always has a secure padlock ahead of its URL and an “S” in its HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Therefore, before visiting a website, your employees must check for both things to ensure that they are on a safe website. 

Otherwise, your employees could hop onto malicious websites, ending up getting their system hacked and putting your business information at risk, too, in the process. Now, you must be thinking about which SSL is best for your company’s website, right?

Well, AlphaSSL, RapidSSL, and Comodo SSL certificates are ruling the cybersecurity markets these days. These certificates offer premium encryption at reasonable rates and are available in different types and validation levels to suit bespoke business needs. So, buy them today, if you haven’t already.

3. Don’t let them store unnecessary information.

You can’t be aware of when an attack is going to happen, which is why you should take preventive measures immediately. Ask your employees not to store any customer’s sensitive information. Also, be strict about keeping sensitive data yourself. 

Don’t store everything on your website’s database. Hackers can come through your weak passwords, lousy hosting service and even outdated plugins too. Educate your employees about which information must be stored and what they need to let go of. Moreover, limit their admin panel access as much as possible.  

4. Don’t trust anyone

Yes, your CTO or COO might be your best friends but, think from a business perspective. Nobody should be trusted with your company’s information. Therefore, ensure that everyone is maintaining vital password hygiene. 

And, the practice starts with you. Be the first one to create a culture in the organization that holds everyone equally liable and accountable. Employees working from home will only follow suit when the employers are following them too. 

So, never trust anyone with passwords and company information. Let your employees realize that they are responsible for your data. 

5. Make it fun

So, it would be best if you made it enjoyable. The best way to do it is by gamifying the entire setup. Designate the first half of your employees as cybercriminals (for fun, of course) and give them a mission to hack a system while designating the other half as the saviours of the company. 

It will help them train for the atrocity and understand the mindset of cybercriminals. Furthermore, creating such a scenario will make training more accessible and fun for your employees. 

6. Respect their boundaries

Yes, they are your employees but not your slaves. You cannot expect them to be present for work anytime and every time. So, before holding them accountable for a breach, ensure that you are not asking them to work while dancing at a party.

Odd work requirements force employees to take desperate actions such as logging in using public Wi-Fi or their friend’s phone to access the domain. You cannot hold your employees accountable for such acts as they don’t get paid to serve you 24×7. So, respect their personal boundaries. 

7. Register them under the Two-Factor Authentication system

Create a two-factor authentication system that secures all login pages of your website. Ensure that pages can only be accessed after a person has entered the One Time Password sent to them on the registered mobile number. 

This will help you secure your login pages. Block the IP addresses when multiple failed login attempts are recorded and scrutinize them. By using this technique, even remote employees can be kept organized. Moreover, it will allow you to monitor their activity as well. So, use this method for secure login. 

To Conclude

Remote working is here to stay. Therefore, it is high time for you to create a robust organizational infrastructure that regularly monitors every employee. Having said that, you must respect their personal boundaries too. For example, don’t expect them to work on festivals and odd hours. 

By asking them to work when they are partying, you only risk your website’s data as they will be accessing it over public Wi-Fi and unsolicited devices. 

So, create a cybersecurity culture in your organization where employees enjoy their training sessions along with helping you maintain a secure environment even while working from their homes. Follow these seven tips while training your employees on cybersecurity.  

Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash