7 Best Company Practices for Securing Remote Endpoints and Devices
Remote endpoints are one of the easiest ways hackers can get into a company’s network. Since remote work is becoming the new normal, managing endpoint security becomes crucial for organizations.
This article will outline some of the best company practices for securing remote endpoints and devices that can revamp your remote work ecosystem.
Why is Securing Endpoints and Devices Essential?
Securing endpoints and devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets from hacking and threats are becoming crucial for businesses and organizations. According to a recent study, around 60% of enterprises are aware that malicious actors and criminals are exploiting the trend of remote working and are targeting IT systems and devices to hack into a company’s network.
In today’s business world, corporate data is the most important asset for a company. To lose that data can not only put the entire business at risk of insolvency but also jeopardize the employees’ personal information. Since the number of endpoints increases in remote work, there is also a rise in the number of types of devices. This factor makes the implementation of security practices a bit too daunting.
Even if proper security measures are taken, hackers develop new ideas and ways of attacking devices to gain access, steal information, and manipulate workers. Endpoints can be susceptible to cyberattacks where hackers can:
- Take control of endpoints to launch dangerous attacks such as a DDOS attack.
- Steal sensitive data for ransom
- Use endpoints as entry or exit points to steal personal and corporate data
With this crisis at hand, now is the time to upgrade your security practices and protect your remote workers from hackers.
What are the Best Company Practices for Securing Remote Endpoints and Devices?
The following are some of the best security practices to protect remote endpoints and devices:
1.Enable VPN for remote devices:
Virtual Private Network (VPN), once connected to a critical internal system, will help your users to access a secure link back to the office environment. Use your endpoint management system to deploy the VPN client. VPNs allow companies to protect all data by ensuring privacy and preventing the system from being exposed to external threats or viruses.
One important thing to remember is to limit who gets access to the data over the VPN. Not everyone needs access to information about the company. Hence, IT teams should carefully manage the accessibility for remote endpoint users.
Moreover, remote workers using cable management solutions should be stressed enough. Incorporating cable management solutions can improve the organization and appearance of remote workstations and prevent physical damage to cables and other hardware, ultimately contributing to more secure remote endpoints and devices.
2.Two-factor Authentication:
Two-factor authentication is a must for accessing your company’s network. It gives a second layer to the security of the authentication process. Users are first required to provide a password and then provide a token or code given by the company. This way, companies ensure tightened security for the organization.
3.Impose a Safe BYOD Policy:
When working remotely, employees usually use their own endpoints and devices. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy has gained traction over the last few years, bringing many potential dangers of insecurity.
To safely practice BYOD policy:
- Enforce a guest access account policy
- Require strong passwords on all personal devices
- Back up device data in the cloud
- Prevent employees from downloading unauthorized apps
- Employ a zero-trust policy
Encryption, the most important security practice, should be implemented immediately in all the devices connected to your network. In case a user loses the data, end-to-end encryption tools will protect it.
4.Use a Firewall:
A firewall acts as an endpoint defense system that prevents attackers from entering a company’s network. The firewall works by closing the ports between the internet and remote devices used by employees. The risks of data leaks and security breaches are reduced as firewalls block malicious actors, unauthorized devices, and viruses from entering the network.
5.Select software and tools with built-in security:
For communication between employees, there are many platforms available such as Slack or Trello, that provide full security and privacy features. Paid versions of such platforms provide remote workers with great compliance features, authentication, and top-tier encryption.
6.Regularly Review your Security Profile:
Even when adequate security measures are taken, risks and hacks still lure around. The security practices you apply for remote endpoints need to be reviewed regularly. Penetration testing and audits will help in honing vulnerabilities in your network or infrastructure while providing you with a plan to fix them. You have to tweak your solutions and strike a balance between security and corporate sustainability.
7.Keep your Softwares Up-to-Date:
It is important to include planned downtime for major operating system updates for your organization’s infrastructure in your security strategy. Also, by keeping remote PCs, laptops, and other devices operating systems up-to-date, your remote systems will keep running smoothly.
End Note:
By following these practices, companies can ensure the best security for remote endpoints and devices, which will not only help them be safe from hackers but also allow them to double the productivity of their employees.