Data protection risks and remote working

For many people, remote working is the dream. The freedom of working from home and choosing your own hours has real appeal to the average office worker. However, from a business point of view, remote working represents some major risks in terms of data protection.

Staying safe while working remotely

When team members are working remotely, it is important to assess the risks in terms of data protection and specifically the dangers of using the internet. By educating ourselves on where the biggest dangers lie, we’ll be better equipped to mitigate them.

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi has become standard in cafés, pubs, libraries, train stations, hotels and many other public spaces. This on-tap connectivity brings with it a constant risk of data leaks as hackers can lure you into connecting to a fake network and intercept all the data that is being transmitted over it.

To err on the side of caution, it’s wise to avoid free Wi-Fi altogether; instead try connecting to the internet using mobile tethering if it’s imperative to work online.

Shoulder surfing

This is the easiest and most common way to steal information. We may associate the act of shoulder surfing (looking over someone’s shoulder as they go about their business) with ATMs and stealing PINs. However, remote workers can be targets of shoulder surfing in public places, which can put valuable or private information at risk.

A privacy screen can make a real difference by protecting your screen from prying eyes. Available in different sizes to suit your device’s dimensions, a privacy screen blacks out the information on your screen when viewed at an angle. It allows you to work as normal without damaging or altering your device as the screen can be easily removed when not required.

Cloud storage

Cloud working seems ideal for remote workers. All the information is easily accessible when you need it, wherever you are in the world. However, as demonstrated by the many celebrities and businesses who have found themselves unfortunate and embarrassed victims of cloud hacking, it isn’t always a failsafe storage environment. If you’re using the cloud it’s important to remember that the security of your data remains your responsibility.