2020 has been a tough year for office based business. Why? Well, the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic has seen many companies that were previously based in offices have to shift all staff to working on a remote basis. This has been to comply with government restrictions and guidelines that have been implemented to minimise the spread of coronavirus and Covid-19 around the world. While businesses that have been able to switch to remote work are lucky to still be able to operate, you are going to have to implement a whole lot of policy to protect your  business from cyber criminals. Cyber criminals are aware that small businesses switching to remote operations are vulnerable, as they don’t have the cybersecurity budget that major corporations may have available to them. The good news? There are a number of relatively low cost steps that you can take to block cybercriminals’ attacks and protect your business – even if your staff are operating remotely. Here are just a few suggestions to get the ball rolling!

Telecommunication Solutions (Like VoIP)

First, you need to implement some sort of VoIP telecommunication services. This will ensure that staff can communicate with one another safely and effectively, no matter where they are in the world. VoIP stands for “voice over internet protocol” and is a communications technology that allows users to interact with one another by audio through an internet connection. Good quality VOIP Telephone Systems will keep all calls and communications secure. Plus, they are usually a lot cheaper than traditional landlines!

A VPN

You should also consider implementing a VPN.  This stands for “virtual private network” and is a network that your staff can connect to securely, ensuring that they don’t connect to public internet connection, which can be much easier for cybercriminals to hack into. A VPN can significantly reduce your chances of breaching data protection law.

Clear BYOD / WFH Policies

If your employees are going to be working remotely, you definitely need to create and share a strict Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Work from Home (WFH) policy. This will ensure that employees working from their own devices know exactly what they can and can’t do with their device to ensure that your data is always well protected. Having guidelines that they need to follow implements accountability and will consequently result in staff being more careful with what they use their device for.

Managed IT Services

A general investment you should be making is outsourced managed IT services in Calgary (or wherever is local to you). Why? Well, this will ensure that you always have a team of competent professionals managing and keeping an eye on your computer systems. If problems arise, they’ll be able to resolve them quickly and effectively, protecting your business and maximising productivity as a result.

Sure, operating on a remote basis may be more difficult at first. But implementing the changes outlined above can seriously help to protect your business from cyber criminals. They’re more than worth taking into consideration and trying out!