3. Secure the Devices Used by Remote Workers
A remote employee’s laptop is essentially a doorway into the company’s digital environment.
If that device is poorly protected, attackers may have an opportunity to reach company accounts, files or applications.
Every organization-issued device should have appropriate security controls, including:
• Automatic operating-system updates
• Updated browsers and applications
• Endpoint protection
• Device encryption where appropriate
• Screen locking
• Strong authentication
• Firewall protection
• Remote management where appropriate
• Regular security monitoring
NIST recommends keeping telework devices patched and updated and enabling basic device protections such as PINs or biometric authentication.
Don’t overlook the boring stuff. Automatic updates, screen locks and device encryption are not exciting cybersecurity features, but they can make a significant difference.
4. Secure Home Wi-Fi for Remote Workers
Remote workers often assume that because their home Wi-Fi has a password, it is automatically secure.
That is not always enough.
Employees should make sure their home routers use modern wireless security and strong, unique passwords. Router firmware should also be updated when updates are available.
Where possible, employees should avoid using default router administrator credentials.
A simple remote-work checklist can include:
• Change the default router password
• Use WPA2 or WPA3 security where supported
• Update router firmware
• Use a strong Wi-Fi password
• Avoid sharing the work network unnecessarily
• Separate smart-home devices from work devices when practical
NIST specifically recommends securing home wireless networks and using WPA2 or WPA3 protections.
5. Use Secure Remote Access for Company Systems
Remote workers often need access to systems that are not publicly available.
This is where secure remote access becomes important.
Depending on the organization’s architecture, this could involve VPN technology, secure cloud applications, identity-aware access controls or a broader zero-trust approach.
The goal is simple: don’t expose internal resources unnecessarily.
Remote access should be authorized, monitored and configured according to the sensitivity of the resource being accessed.
NIST’s more recent zero-trust guidance also addresses hybrid workforces where users need secure access to enterprise resources from different locations and devices.
A remote worker shouldn’t automatically receive access to everything simply because they successfully logged in.
Access should reflect their role and actual business needs.
6. Create Clear BYOD Cybersecurity Rules
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) can make remote work easier.
An employee may already have a personal laptop, tablet or smartphone that they want to use.
But convenience introduces questions.
Who controls the device? Is it encrypted? Is the operating system updated? Can company data be copied to personal storage? What happens when the employee leaves the organization?
A BYOD policy should clearly define:
* Which personal devices are allowed
* Which company systems they can access
* Required security settings
* Whether security software is required
* How company information can be stored
* What happens if the device is lost
* What happens when employment ends
My editorial take: BYOD should never mean “use whatever device you want.” It should mean “use an approved personal device that meets clearly defined security requirements.”